Photojournalist Itoh Son suffered an apparent heart attack and died Friday morning while covering activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene or Traslacion 2026 in Manila.
Son was a photographer for the daily tabloid newspaper Saksi. According to his Facebook page, he was 55 years old.
An initial report from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Son was found unconscious and without a pulse near the Manila Police District Station 5.
He was immediately brought to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center for treatment but was later declared dead on arrival.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) mourned Son’s death. In a statement, it expressed condolences to Son’s family, friends and colleagues, describing him as a dedicated media worker who died in the line of duty.
Despite experiencing flu symptoms in the days leading up to the event, Son continued covering pre-Traslacion activities, including the traditional “Pahalik,” colleagues said.
PTFoMS said Son’s commitment to his profession reflected his dedication to documenting significant national events and informing the public through his work in photojournalism.
The task force also urged media workers to remain vigilant about their health and safety while performing their duties, noting the physical demands often required in covering large-scale public events such as the annual Traslacion.
The Traslacion, held every January in honor of the Black Nazarene, draws millions of devotees to the streets of Manila and is considered one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
