By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Friday (July 11) renewed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance protection for the media practitioners through comprehensive legal aid, support services, and advocacy.
PAO Chief Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta and
PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Jose A. Torres, Jr. led the historic signing of the MOA at the Executive Support Staff Office of the PAO.
Usec. Torres said that the renewal of the MOA is geared towards “to underscore our commitment of our goal of protecting and securing the media professionals.”
“The collaboration between the PAO and the PTFoMS ensures the prosecution of media-related incidents,” Torres said.
“It’s the real concern of the PAO to provide legal assistance to members of the media.
” It upholds the mandate of the PTFoMS to provide protection and security to media practitioners.,” Torres said.
Torres cited that in 2018 there was a Philippine Plan of Action to Protect Media Practitioners in conjunction with the United Nations Plan of Action for Media Practitioners which is now being fasttracked by the PTFoMS.
He cited that the case of the mastermind in the murder of Percy Lapid is now archived with the court concerned.
Torres boasted of the decrease of work-related incidents involving media practitioners from 134 to 116, and for the first time, no media practitioner has been killed in the performance of their journalism profession.
Dr. Rueda-Acosta said that the Moa will signify the partnership with PTFoMS to provide all the rights of the media practitioners.
She asked the politicians who may have disputes with media practitioners not to slay them but sue them in court.
Dr. Acosta said that freedom of the press and of expression is the bastion of democracy.
She noted people in government should be transparent and if the media practitioners have erred, they should be held accountable in court.
Dr. Rueda-Acosta stressed that it’s really significant to renew the MOA between the PAO and the PTFoMS in order to ensure the protection to media practitioners.
Dr. Rueda-Acosta vowed to ensure 99% of eliminating incidents of violence against media practitioners and the PAO nationwide will see to it that it is done.
She cited the need for media practitioners to undergo training also.
She scored the animosities on the social media platforms.
“Without the media, We have no democracy. Democracy is by the people, for the people, and of the people,” Dr. Rueda-Acosta said.
She noted that during the time of Usec. Paul Guiterrez there had been trainings and seminars for media practitioners, which should be continued, including the trainings of the editors.
Dr. Rueda-Acosta also cited the number of media practitioners who had been charged with cyber libel recently.
Atty. Beda A. Epres, Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) delivered the message of support to the PAO and the PTFoMS.
Atty. Epres expressed the full support to the collaboration between the PAO and the PTFoMS which is not only a partnership but a commitment.
Atty. Epres said that the role of the media is important in the freedom of expression.
“Mabuhay ang malayang pamamahayag. Mabuhay ang Pilipino,” he said.
Epres noted that the CHR also has a MOA with PAO to provide protection of media practitioners.
Epres urged media practitioners to avail of the ALISTO or Alert System for Members of the Media.
NPC President Boying Abasola also expressed their full support to the PAO and the PTFoMS.
PAO Senior Deputy Chief Public Attorney (DCPA) Ana Lisa M. Soriano, and PAO DCPA Dr. Erwin P. Erfe, Director General of PAO Forensic Laboratory Division, also signed in the MOA. ###
