Police protection unit for journalists revived

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has expressed its support for the reactivation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Media Security Vanguards. The specialized unit was originally created to protect journalists from threats. "They are not just messengers. They are truth-tellers, watchdogs, defenders of the people's right to know. But in the pursuit of this mission, many of them become targets," said Undersecretary Rolando Puno. Puno said a disturbing rise in attacks against media workers prompted the revival of the PNP media protection unit. "No journalist should have to look over their shoulder for simply doing their job. By reviving the Media Security Vanguards, we are putting would-be attackers on notice: the government will no longer stand by," he said. Revamped under a strengthened framework, the unit would function in coordination with the PNP Public Information Office, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and local government units. The Philippines has recorded over 200 journalist killings since 1986, many of them unresolved. The murder of radio broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa in 2023 has brought renewed attention to the dangers faced by members of the press, as the Philippines maintained its status as among the most perilous places for journalists in Asia. "Speak up. Report threats. We will act. Your safety is not negotiable," Puno told journalists facing threats.