Dumaguete: The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday assured media practitioners in Negros Oriental that their concerns will be addressed as it advances the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists. Marc Louis Siapno, head of the CHR's Strategic Communication Division, said at a stakeholders' dialogue here that he would raise the concerns of the Negros Oriental media with an inter-agency group overseeing the action plan's development and implementation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Siapno emphasized the importance of listening to the journalists' concerns as a crucial first step in determining the necessary solutions. He addressed more than 10 journalists during the dialogue initiated by the CHR in partnership with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS). Siapno outlined five flagship programs of the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists: integrity and professionalism, conducive working conditions, protection mechanisms, the criminal justice system, and public information, journalism education, and research.
Veteran journalist Fernando Sepe Jr., project director with the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines, provided an overview of the dialogue's alignment with the action plan and facilitated a workshop on the risks and challenges faced by the media. The activity included a workshop where participants were asked to identify and document experiences or those of colleagues related to attacks, assaults, and other threats. They also provided status updates on these incidents and suggested recommendations for resolving these issues.
The most common concern raised by reporters was physical and verbal threats and 'attacks' by politicians related to news reporting. Gazzelene B. Corsame-Fuentes, officer-in-charge of the CHR in Negros Oriental, emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination. She reiterated the CHR's commitment to protecting media practitioners' safety and security as part of its mandate.
Lawyer Francis Rupert Mangrobang of PTFoMS highlighted their collaboration with the CHR, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Bureau of Investigation concerning media safety. He assured that PTFoMS would be available to respond to incidents whenever needed, even though online attacks are not yet part of their mandate. He mentioned coordination with agencies like the PNP Cyber Crime Unit to assist media practitioners facing threats.
The CHR announced plans for upcoming activities, including online training sessions, to help media enhance and practice their skills in a safe environment. It was noted that at least three broadcast journalists were killed in this capital city in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
