PTFoMS seeks media coverage of Maguindanao massacre promulgation

FILE: Maguindanao massacre site in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao (PCOO photo)

MANILA — The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Wednesday formally asked the Supreme Court (SC) to allow media coverage of the scheduled promulgation of the Maguindanao massacre case on December 19.

In a letter, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), requested Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez that official government communications agencies (Presidential Communication Operations Office, Radio-TV Malacañang, Philippine News Agency, People’s Television, etc.) be allowed to cover the said event “so that the proceedings can be aired on all government traditional and social media platforms”.

Created by Administrative Order No. 1 (AO1) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Oct. 11, 2016, the task force’s mandate is to protect the life, liberty and security of media workers.

The Maguindanao massacre is one of the cases in the inventory of the PTFoMS as 32 of those killed were journalists accompanying the convoy on their way to Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao to file the certificate of candidacy of then Maguindanao gubernatorial candidate Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

The convoy was ambushed by around a hundred armed men.

After 10 years, the promulgation of the judgment on the case will be held at the Quezon City Jail–Annex, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City at 9 a.m.