Task force to probe killing of journalists

PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

President Duterte has created a task force to investigate the killings of journalists and protect media workers, a Malacañang official said on Thursday.

Under his first Administrative Order (AO), which he signed on Oct. 11, the President gave the task force “the mandate of ensuring a safe environment” for journalists, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

The task force “on the violation of the right to life, liberty and security of members of the media” will investigate cases of journalists who have been killed and will also receive complaints of threats against media workers, Andanar said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will chair the task force. Its members will include Andanar as co-chair, the interior and defense secretaries, the solicitor general, the military chief of staff, the national police chief, the National Bureau of Investigation director and the executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee.

The chair of the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman will be invited as observers and resource persons along with the heads of the National Press Club, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, Publishers Association of the Philippines and Philippine Press Institute.

Malacañang earlier said the President was keen on forming a “superbody” that would look into the killings of journalists in the country.