Media security task force hits slay of radio anchor

BAGUIO CITY -- The Presidential Task Force on Media Security condemned the killing of Albay radio broadcaster Joey Llana, who was shot as he was driving his car along Barangay Peñafrancia, Daraga town on July 20.

 In a statement, the PTFoMS said that while reports "remain sketchy at this point," Task Force Executive Director and Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco has ordered an immediate investigation and is already coordinating with the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Division of Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol).

 Egco, who was in Baguio City spearheading a seminar on media security, reiterated the call for members of the media to report threats to them.

 "At the first sign of trouble, death threats, isumbong na agad sa amin (report to us immediately),” he said.

 Llana, 38, was on his way to Legazpi City for his radio program at 92.3 FM Home Radio Legazpi when he was ambushed.

Egco said according to Llana's relatives, the mediaman had been receiving death threats in the past, but never reported them to authorities.

“Paggising ko po ang nakita kong message sa cellphone ko ang pagkapatay sa isang kasamang media sa Albay. Nakakalungkot po. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit napaka importante na malaman ang mga protocol ng media security (When I woke up this morning, I read a message on my phone about the death of another mediaman in Albay. This saddens me. This is the reason why it is very important that we should know the protocols on media security)," he said.

"Apparently, hindi alam ng victim ang protocols natin (the victim did not know our protocols)," he added.

The PTFoMS, he said, has been going around the country to hold media security seminars to discuss not only the role of police and legal experts in protecting and handling cases of media practitioners, but on how to professionalize the ranks of the media.

The task force has already conducted seminar-trainings in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and the National Capital Region.

Stakeholders from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions joined last week’s event.

The PTFoMS was formed through Administrative Order 1 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2016. -- PNA