Poe wants task force to protect media workers from violence

Senator Grace Poe wants the creation of an independent task force that will protect media workers amid the increasing incidents of violence against them.

“You know how legislation takes long. But in the process, I think we should be able to file a measure na magkaroon ng independent group for the protection of media practitioners…an independent commission. Sa ngayon na wala pa yan, ang puwede nating gawin ay ilaan talaga sa budget na mayroong mapunta sa task force na iyan,” Poe said Wednesday during the Senate inquiry into the rise of media killings.

Addressing the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, said the task force should not be confined with government officials and should have media practitioners on board.

“Sinabi na natin sa kanila na ang composition ng kanilang board ay dapat mayroong independent practitioners na miyembro, members of the academe at hindi lamang government officials para patas ang pag-iimbestiga,” she said.

The media task force, which is currently chaired by journalist Usec. Joel Sy Egco, was created by President Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 1 in 2016. Since then, there have been some eight work-related media killings.

During the same hearing, Poe also asked the government to set up a dedicated hotline for media workers to report threats amid increasing cases of work-related harassment and killings.

“This is a priority—a dedicated hotline [for the media]. It’s really to report threats,” she said.

Poe added that telecommunications firms can help to make reporting threats free of charge.

The senator also vowed to push for media workers’ benefits, such as hazard pay and insurance.

Poe has filed Senate Resolution 820, directing her committee to find feasible ways and means to provide standard social protection mechanisms such as health and accident insurance to the media.  /vvp