Ang Pahayagan

SANTIAGO, CHILE— THE press community in the Philippines remains vibrant, further gaining momentum and free as it continues to live up to its reputation as the ‘freest press’ in Asia.

This was the bold assessment given by Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez, a former journalist appointed in May 2023 by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), the only presidential office anywhere in the world focused on addressing all violence against the life, liberty, and security of all media workers.

Based on data provided by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), there are currently 735 radio stations (53 percent), 421 newspapers (30 percent) 162 television and cable stations (12 percent) and 73 magazines (5 percent) that comprised the country’s so-called ‘mainstream (or traditional) media’ as of July 2023. These numbers debunked unsubstantiated claims that the press is under threat, being curtailed or being suppressed in the country.

The figures do not include those operating using the various social media platform (Meta, Viber, YouTube, etc.) but the number totaled in the thousands. The difficulty in monitoring the number of media outlets operating in the social media realm is due mainly to the fact that the Philippine government has always been liberal in its attitude towards the Internet. This is confirmed by the US State Department Country Report on Philippine Human Rights last April 22, 2024 on ‘Internet Freedom’ in the country.

In a span of four (4) days, between April 29, 2024 and May 2, 2024, two identified gunmen in the killing of Filipino radio broadcasters were arrested in police operations supervised by the PTFoMS. They are:

– Jolieto Mangumpit, alias ‘Ricky,’ a former member of the terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA), who shot dead Misamis Occidental radio broadcaster, Juan T. Jumalon, aka, ‘DJ Johnny Walker’ last November 5, 2023 in the town of Calamba. Mangumpit was arrested in the nearby city of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte. In an earlier police operation last March 15, 2024, two of his accomplices, cousins Boboy and Renante Bongcawel, were also arrested by the police in Misamis Occidental.

– Jonell Jane Andagkit Poten, aka, Junell Gerozaga, arrested last May 2, 2024, in the town of Makilala, who shot dead Kidapawan City, Cotabato broadcaster, Eduardo Dizon last July 10, 2019. His accomplice and suspected mastermind to the killing, Dante Encarnacion Tabusares, aka, Bong Encarnacion, is now undergoing trial also for murder before the Davao Regional Trial Court.

Gutierrez said this twin development affirms Pres. Marcos Jr.’s statement before the members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) during their 50th anniversary last April 15, 2024, that his government, thru the PTFoMS, “is always on top of ensuring a safe environment for media practitioners in the country.”

In an earlier message and directive to the PTFoMS to help foster a “free and responsible press,” the Philippine Chief Executive also said:

“With your steadfast adherence to your mission and unwavering support towards our collective goal, I am confident that we will further mitigate—and eventually eradicate the risks that usually hound our media workers and their families.”

As also advised by Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who is also PTFoMS chair, the “most effective deterrent” against media rights violations is to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

PRESS STATEMENT

May 3, 2024

Ref.: Usec. Paul M. Gutierrez

Executive Director Presidential Task Force on Media Security