Eighteen journalists have been killed in the Davao Region since 1986, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), highlighting the risks faced by media workers in the region.
PTFoMS Executive Director Jose “Joe” T. Torres Jr. disclosed the figure during the Isyu Karon media forum on Friday, where he presented the government’s latest data on journalist killings nationwide.
Torres said 204 journalists have been killed in the Philippines from 1986 to the present. Of these, 59 cases have resulted in convictions, while 22 remain under trial and 27 are still under investigation.
Another 96 cases have been dismissed, closed, archived, or have no available records, he said.
Region 11, which covers the Davao Region, recorded 18 journalist killings, while Region 10 recorded 10, Region 12 had 17, Region 13 had nine, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded 36 cases.
Torres, however, clarified that not all of the recorded killings were necessarily linked to the victims’ work as journalists or their exercise of freedom of expression and opinion.
He said the task force is reviewing older and unresolved cases, particularly those that may have received little attention, as part of efforts to pursue prosecution and provide justice for slain journalists.
Torres said the PTFoMS coordinates with law enforcement agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, when journalist killings occur. It also works with the Department of Justice and the Public Attorney’s Office to assist journalists who may require legal support.
He cited the 2009 Maguindanao massacre as one of the deadliest attacks involving members of the media. While convictions have been secured in the case, some suspects remain at large.
The PTFoMS is also strengthening measures to address threats against journalists, including those made online. Torres said the task force recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the government’s cybercrime investigation authorities to improve coordination in addressing such threats.
He urged journalists who receive threats to report them through the task force’s available reporting mechanisms, including its hotline and incident reporting forms.
Torres also said the PTFoMS will maintain 24/7 monitoring during the upcoming Barangay Elections, including social media monitoring in coordination with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center.
The task force is likewise working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to address the safety concerns of journalists serving as insulating witnesses in drug-related cases.
According to Torres, some journalists who have served as insulating witnesses have faced threats, prompting the task force to explore measures to strengthen their protection.
