Presidential task force head on media security leaves post

PCO Sec. Cesar Chavez (above) confirms on Sept. 18, the departure of PTFoMS executive director. —PTV FB photo

MANILA, Philippines — The executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) who was earlier linked to the P11-billion “shabu” shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs in 2018 has stepped down from his post.

Paul Gutierrez’s departure came after Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed on Wednesday the veracity of a Sept. 12 letter from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin about the expiration of the PTFoMS official’s term.

Addressed to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, the letter stated that the expiration of Gutierrez’s tenure “shall take effect immediately.”

READ: Paul Gutierrez denies ex-BOC official’s claims: ‘He is an inveterate liar’

No replacement yet

Chavez said the Palace has yet to name a new PTFoMS executive director.

“I do not want to speculate on the reason or reasons for my termination,” Gutierrez said in a text message to the Inquirer when asked if his departure was related to the claims made by dismissed customs intelligence agent Jimmy Guban against him.

In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Gutierrez thanked President Marcos for “the opportunity to serve under his administration even for the brief duration of one year and 14 weeks.” He was appointed on May 25, 2023.

Gutierrez added that the decision of Marcos to keep the task force was “the clearest message that he is committed to creating a safe media environment where every member of the press can practice their profession responsibly, professionally, and without fear.” The PTFoMS was created in October 2016 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte to protect the life, liberty, and security of media workers.

A month ago, Guban claimed that Gutierrez warned him not to tag Duterte’s son Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband Mans Carpio, and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang in the 2018 shabu smuggling controversy.

Gutierrez previously denied all of Guban’s allegations and said he does not personally know or has met any of the Dutertes, Carpio, or Yang.

But he admitted visiting Guban at the Senate when the former was still a reporter for a tabloid, saying that he just wanted to see for himself if the former customs agent was indeed ill.

Gutierrez told the Inquirer that he received two invitations to attend the House quad committee hearing on Philippine offshore gaming operators and links to Chinese syndicates and illegal activities, but the invitations were eventually canceled.

He earlier expressed his willingness to explain his side before the panel as he maintained that Guban’s claims were all lies and “falsehoods.”