(PNA file photo) MANILA-Despite the new methodology used in this year's World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released on May 4, 2022, the Philippine press remains freer and "extremely vibrant" under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte compared to the previous administrations of former Presidents Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr. and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "Even with the new method used by the Paris-based RSF in determining each nation's rankings in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index, the present administration still fared way better than past administrations, a testament to President Rodrigo Duterte's unwavering commitment to media freedom," Undersecretary Joel M. Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), said in a statement. Once again, Egco said that RSF's index proves beyond doubt the media environment in the country has greatly improved after President Duterte came to
Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director and Undersecretary Joel M. Sy Egco (File photo) MANILA - Undersecretary Joel M. Sy Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), supports the move of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in urging the Supreme Court (SC) to have former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes rearrested for the murder of environmentalist and broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega. In a statement, Egco, as head of the task force under the Office of the President charged with protecting media workers, said he "fully backs and supports" OSG's move for the lifting of the March 23, 2022 temporary restraining order (TRO) the High Court issued which prevented the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Puerto Princesa City from enforcing the warrant of arrest against Reyes. "The Presidential Task Force shares the sentiments of the OSG in its motion to lift the TRO which is preventing the re-arrest of the former gove
MANILA - Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), on Friday warned that Facebook's repeated attempts to censor and restrict the posts of government officials creates a chilling effect in the world of social media. Egco issued the statement after the US-based tech giant recently warned National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for a post that urged Filipinos to unite against the 53-year-old communist insurgency that has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Filipinos. Facebook has since then restored Esperon's post but without admitting it committed a mistake, an implied admission of error. Like Esperon, Egco said he and other officials critical of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) such as Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy have been "restricted" several times to post in Facebook. He suspe
Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security(middle) (PNA photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA - Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the arrest of Datu Harris Ampatuan in Cotabato City, one of the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. "I commend the men and women from the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headed by Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz for the arrest of Datu Harris Ampatuan, one of the accused in the 2009 massacre that claimed the lives of so many people. Being a member agency of this Presidential Task Force, we salute you for tirelessly heeding the call for justice," Egco said in a news release on Friday. Described as one of the worst election-related violence in Philippine history, around 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed on November 23, 2009 while
MANILA - Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), met with representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) led by Mohamed Djelid, Director and Representative of UNESCO Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss possible cooperation on capacity building projects on human rights during a courtesy visit in Malacanang, Manila on March 25. Egco presented the accomplishments of PTFoMS since its inception in 2016 and its pivotal role in ensuring media freedom in the Philippines by protecting the life, liberty and security of media workers pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte's Administrative Order No. 1. Also present during the meeting were Undersecretary Severo Catura, Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee, who spoke about the openness of the government and its willingness to engage with UNESCO; Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, spokesperson an