PAPI calls for collaborative efforts for press people’s protection

“I BELIEVE that all we need is collaboration among government and private agencies to protect our [ranks] and other members of the press because the mechanisms are already in place,” Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) National President Nelson Santos said.

Santos said this in reference to the proposal of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to create a separate media alert mechanism to be called, Alert System for Media Human Rights Violations (Alisto).

The PAPI national president echoed the stand of Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, who said there were already existing and functioning mechanisms to protect members of the press from any violation of their right to life, liberty and security.

Santos pointed out that with CHR’s issuance of a statement this week urging the executive branch to “provide sufficient mechanisms” to ensure a safer environment for media workers, “It seemingly undermined the capability of PTFoMS to protect media people.”

It could be recalled that following her visit to the country last February 2, even United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan recognized the power of PTFoMS, which she said was the “main mechanism for the safety of journalists.”

“Why don’t we just help each other — the PTFoMS, PAPI, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Alisto, the Presidential Commission Office, [the] Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and other agencies. Collaboration is the key here,” Santos said. “Let’s [get our act] together.”