MEDIA practitioners, notably the hard-hitting and crusading journalists, run the risk of drawing the ire of corrupt government officials and their cohorts in the private sector.
In democratic countries, like the Philippines and the United States, newspaper and broadcast journalists, men and women, are the acknowledged “eyes and ears” of the people.
Official records show that many members of the “Fourth Estate” have been killed, wounded, jailed or “silenced” for exposing the nefarious activities of prominent personalities.
That’s why we welcome the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The agreement was signed last Wednesday by PTFoMS Executive Director Jose Torres and NBI Director Angelito Magno.
The partnership is seen to reinforce the Marcos’ administration’s fight against violence and threats directed at members of the Fourth Estate.
Specifically, the MOA establishes a framework designed to enhance the protection of journalists through key initiatives and prioritizes information exchange between the two offices.
Of course, we share the view of the PTFoMS and the NBI that the agreement will facilitate the sharing of critical data relevant to media-related cases.
And we expect government authorities, through the two agencies, to investigate with zeal and determination all media-related cases in the country.
It is, without doubt, a move in the right direction as the forthcoming presidential election in May 2028 fast approaches.
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