Agencies tackle media security during 2025 polls

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday pushed to classify violence against the media such as threats, harassment and physical attacks during the election period as an election offense.

PTFoMS Executive Director and Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said the two bodies will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) by next month with the 2025 midterm elections in mind.

Gutierrez met with Comelec Chair George Garcia on Thursday, with Garcia supporting President Marcos’ desire to “create a safe environment” for the media amid the polls.

“Himself a former broadcast journalist, Chair Garcia is keenly aware of the threats that our journalists face especially during the elections when tensions are high. I am pleased to note his offer to exercise the Comelec’s power to warn candidates, political parties and their supporters that any attempt to stifle the country’s press from performing its mandate during the election period would be dealt with swiftly and decisively,” he said.

Forms of violence against media practitioners are not considered an election offense under the Omnibus Election Code.

However, the said law considers threats, intimidation, use of fraudulent devices or schemes and other forms of coercion against any person or voter during the election period as election offenses.

Gutierrez said the MOA was not aimed at amending the Omnibus Election Code, but he was open to the idea.