CHR, PTFoMS ink deal to strengthen media security

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement to improve services aimed at protecting media workers.

At a media conference in Quezon City, PTFoMs executive director Jose Torres Jr. said journalists face harassment, threats, and violence.

He said among the cases reported to PTFoMs are online harassment of female journalists, libel, surveillance, and red tagging.

“Today’s agreement is our roadmap to reversing that trend,” Torres said. “It established concrete actions that will provide real protections, prompt response, and justice for media workers in distress.”

In a statement, the CHR said the MOA outlines key objectives, including the exchange of information for swift response to threats, stronger investigations into rights violations, and enhanced cooperation in case build-up to ensure accountability.

''It also provides financial assistance to affected media workers and establishes a policy platform that integrates human rights standards into media security efforts, fostering a safer environment for journalists,'' the CHR said.

The two agencies will work together to provide legal and psychosocial assistance to the victims and their families.

In addition, they will collaborate to engage and raise awareness among media organizations, civil society organizations, and the general public, as well as to develop the capacities of journalists and first responders.

“Ang nakikita naming improvement would be strengthening the mechanism because hindi lang po independent ang mga magiging trabaho, but while we work independently, our work will still be collaborative,” CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said.

(The improvement we see would be strengthening the mechanism, because while our tasks will be done independently, our work will still be collaborative.)

“Mas targeted, mas proactive ang magiging sistema ng pagbibigay ng serbisyo,” he added.

(The system of delivering services will be more targeted and more proactive.) — VBL, GMA Integrated News