MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY— The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), in partnership with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) held the Visayas segment of its 2023 Nationwide Summit: “Promoting a Free and Responsible Press Towards a Safer Media Community” at the Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills Apas, Cebu City, on November 21 with more than 70 participants composed of media workers, local government units, information officers and some members of the Regional Police Office (PRO-7).
PTFoMS executive director, Usec Paul Gutierrez said that this nationwide seminar aims to reintroduce the recalibrated PTFoMS to its internal and external stakeholders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In a message from PCO press secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, she bared that this nationwide media summit aims to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of all media workers.
PTFoMS inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PAO to promote a safer and responsible press, to address immediately all threats and harassment to media workers and the summit aims to foster dialog to fortify and strengthen media safety and a free and responsible press.
PAO Chief Public Attorney, Dr. Persida Rueda-Acosta, in her welcome remarks said that this nationwide summit values media and this has become a vital tool for capacity building to help strengthen the media’s bond to be safe, free and responsible media community.
The Summit also delved into the topics—Backgrounder of Administrative Order No. 01 that created PTFoMS; Briefer on Cyber Libel and Libel; Basic Ethical Guidelines for Members of the Media so they could also be aware of the ill effects of irresponsible journalism.
Other critical topics also include the Effective and Responsible Reporting/Commentaries during uncertainties brought about by crises like wars/threats; and the Briefer on the use of Gender Fair Language in News Writing and Reporting.
During the event, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), under the helm of Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, will conduct FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS with members of the media.
Key government officials comprising the Task Force that include Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as Chairperson and Sec. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) were also invited to participate in the event.
RMA News and Cebu Online News Press Corps Founder Robby Mongaya Alugar with RMA News Senior Correspondent Minerva Newman
Speakers included, Libel & Cyber Libel by Atty. Maria Calinawan, PAO-7; Ethical Guidelines for Media Workers & the Effects of Irresponsible Journalism by USEC Paul Gutierez, Exec. Director, PTFoMS; Responsible Journalism in Times of Wars and Threats (Virtual); Applying International Humanitarian Law by Atty. Evecar B. Cruz-Ferrer, International Humanitarian Law expert. Previously from International Committee on the Red Cross and currently works with the LWA & Professo in Public International Law at the Ateneo Law School.
RMA News and Cebu Online News Press Corps Founder Robby Mongaya Alugar with Atty. Carmie A. Balana – Public Attorney III, PAO Cebu City District Office
Use of Gender Fair Language in News Writing and Reporting (Virtual) by Alvin Cloyd H. Dakis, Gender and Development Expert; Member, GAD Resource Pool, Philippine Commission on Women.