Exec hails Duterte’s PTFoMS creation

AMBASSADOR Franz Jessen lauded President Duterte’s move to form the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) in addressing media concerns in the Philippines.

“The PTFoMS is indeed a welcome development,” Jessen said in his speech, delivered by the EU Delegation’s Head of Development Enrico Strampelli, during a multistakeholder consultation on the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (PPASJ).

He also cited the participation of various government agencies—including the police and military, as well as media organization and lawyers.

“We hope [the PTFoMS] will successfully resolve many issues that continue to hound journalists and help resolve with finality the murders [involving them] in the country,” the envoy said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Denmark Jan Top Christensen recognized the role of PTFoMS in improving the country’s ranking in the Global Impunity Index from third, which was at No. 5 before Duterte formed the task force, as recently reported by the Community to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

He also took the opportunity to commend other “progressive reforms” in the country, particularly in health; finance, such as tax reform; and infrastructure, such as the ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program.

Representatives of local and international journalists’ organizations, nongovernment organizations, government agencies that already included PTFoMS and academe have participated in the crafting of the PPASJ.

Philippine National Commission for Unesco Secretary-General Lila Ramos-Shahani also praised the hard work of PTFoMS, headed by Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, to address the country’s CPJ ranking.

The EU and Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cofinanced the event.