PTFoMS: ‘Openness, transparency’ to be shown during UN official’s PH visit

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, arrives to a press conference in Tegucigalpa, on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Orlando SIERRA / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of the freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan to the Philippines will showcase the country’s commitment to “openness and transparency.”

This remark came from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), which added that the visit is also a welcome opportunity to demonstrate “the nation’s vibrant media community.”

PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez said that the government is dedicated to maintaining an environment of freedom of expression in the country.

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“The government remains steadfast in its efforts to foster an environment where anyone can freely express their opinion without fear,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

Khan is set to visit the country from January 23 to February 2.

The PTFoMS also said that Khan will be engaging with several government agencies, such as the Philippine Human Rights Committee, the Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center, and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, among others.

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Gutierrez also expressed hope that Khan’s visit will bolster the Philippines’ status as an advocate of human rights.