President Rodrigo Duterte has signed his first administrative order (AO) creating a presidential task force against media killings, Thursday, October 13.
“President Duterte has signed administrativer order number 1 creating the presidential task force on the violation of the right to life, liberty and security of members of the media,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press briefing.
Section 2 of the AO stated the task force "shall have the mandate of ensuring a safe environment for Media Workers."
Department of Justice Secretary Vitalian Aguirre II will chair the task force, with members: Andanar as co-chairperson, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Solicitor General Jose Calida, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran and the executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee.
The AO stated that the task force would invite the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Ombudsman as observers and resource persons.
Leaders of media organizations, which include the National Press Club (NPC), the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), would also be invited.
The Palace earlier staid that Duterte was keen on forming a "superbody" that will investigate the killings of journalists in the country.
Source / Image: Inquirer
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