Eighteen journalists have been killed in Davao Region since 1986, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), underscoring the continuing 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, as he presented the government’s latest accounting of journalist killings across the country.
Torres said a total of 204 journalists have been killed in the Philippines since 1986, with cases recorded across different regions in Mindanao.
“There were 204 journalists killed since 1986 hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Marami ‘yon, 204. Marami talaga compared sa ibang bansa,” Torres said.
Of the 204 cases, 59 have resulted in convictions of perpetrators, while 22 remain under trial and 27 are still under investigation. Another 96 cases have been dismissed, closed, archived, or have no records, Torres said.
Torres said Region 11 recorded 18 journalist killings, Region 10 with 10, Region 12 with 17, Region 13 with nine, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 36.
The figures place Davao Region among the areas in Mindanao with a significant number of journalist killings.
Torres, however, stressed that not all cases were necessarily connected to the victims’ work as journalists or their exercise of freedom of expression.
“Gusto kong linawin, sa maraming kaso, unfortunately, almost half din, based on our review, ang hindi related sa kanilang exercise of freedom of expression at opinion. So kung titingnan naman natin, pag sinasabi na matindi ba talaga ‘yung killing of journalists, matindi, maraming pinatay na journalist dito sa Pilipinas. Pero dahil ba sa kanilang pagiging journalist? Marami dahil hindi dahil sa kanilang pagiging journalist,” he explained.
He said the task force is reviewing old and unresolved cases, particularly those that may have been left unattended, with the goal of pursuing prosecution and securing justice for slain journalists.
“I mentioned earlier, we are here, the task force is primarily for the investigation and prosecution of cases of killings. Pangalawa po, kung may nangyari man, we’re supposed to be there on the ground immediately para yung investigation ma-coordinate natin with the NBI man yan, with the police, and all other agencies. Then sa prosecution naman, we’re working together with the Department of Justice, and also with the Public Attorney’s Office para may assistance yung mga journalists kung wala silang lawyers,” he said.
Torres also cited the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, one of the deadliest attacks against journalists, noting that convictions have been secured but that some suspects remain at large.
He said the PTFoMS is also strengthening mechanisms to address threats against journalists, particularly those made online.
“Recently, we just signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the cybercrime investigation,” he said.
Torres urged journalists who receive threats to report them through the task force’s available mechanisms, including its hotline and incident reporting forms.
He also said the task force will maintain 24/7 monitoring during the coming Barangay Elections, including social media monitoring through a team working with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center.
The PTFoMS is likewise working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to address the safety concerns of journalists who serve as insulating witnesses in drug-related cases.
Torres said some journalists who served as insulating witnesses have faced threats, prompting the task force to look into measures that could provide them with greater protection.
