With the May 2025 midterm elections approaching, a coalition of media organizations urged authorities to safeguard journalists covering the upcoming polls.
The Movement for Media Safety Philippines called on government agencies, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), candidates, political parties, and law enforcement to ensure press freedom during the election season.
“A safe media environment is crucial to ensuring clean, credible, and orderly elections,” its statement read.
The coalition warned that attacks against media personnel violate the Fair Election Act, the Omnibus Election Code, and the Revised Penal Code.
Journalists who experience threats, harassment, illegal detention, torture, or physical violence during their coverage are encouraged to report such incidents.
Reports can be submitted to mediasafetyph@gmail.com or via the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Safety Hotline at 09602784263.
The appeal has been endorsed by a wide range of media organizations, academic institutions, and press freedom advocates.
Among the signatories are the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, the Center for Community Journalism and Development, the University of the Philippines College of Media and Communication, the Freedom for Media Freedom for All Coalition, MindaNews, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
The Philippine Press Institute, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, and the International Association for Women in Radio and Television-Philippines have also joined the call.
Numerous media outlets, such as Rappler, SunStar Davao, Bukidnon News.net, Palawan News, The Ilocos Times, Mindanao Times, and Leyte Samar Daily Express are also among the signatories.
Independent journalists and members of the Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild likewise expressed their support for the campaign.
International watchdogs such as Reporters Without Borders have repeatedly urged the Philippine government to strengthen protections for media workers.
The 2009 Maguindanao massacre, in which 32 journalists were among the 58 people killed, remains the deadliest single attack on media workers.