The Philippine National Police (PNP), in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), officially relaunched the PNP Media Security Vanguards on April 8, 2025, at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Headquarters in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.
The event was attended by key officials from various government agencies and media sectors, including Police Brigadier General Marlou Roy V. Alzate, Chief of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA); Police Colonel Randulf T. Tuaño, Acting Chief of the PNP Public Information Office; PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Jose A. Torres Jr.; Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jaybee “Jay” C. Ruiz; Atty. Luis Gonzaga S. Boloan Jr., representing DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres; DILG Undersecretary Rolando C. Puno; and COMELEC Director for Education and Information Atty. Abegail Claire Calvera Llacuna.
This renewed initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of media practitioners across the country. As the nation prepares for the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE 2025), the relaunch seeks to reaffirm the government’s resolve to protect journalists from threats and violence.
Through the Media Security Vanguards which was originally launched in 2022, the PNP-Public Information Office will deploy specially trained police officers in cities and provinces nationwide to act as immediate responders to investigate and resolve incidents of threats or violence against media practitioners. With this move, PNP emphasizes enhanced coordination, faster response times, and intensified capacity-building programs in upholding press freedom and in ensuring the safety of journalists in the country.
PBGen Alzate underscored the crucial role of the police in upholding democracy. “This program reaffirms our commitment to ensure that journalists can work without fear—that they are protected, and those who seek to harm or silence them will be held accountable”, he said.
Echoing this sentiment, PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Torres emphasized the importance of institutional support. “We are providing a framework to ensure that journalists can do their jobs without fear of intimidation or violence. Journalists must be able to speak freely and fearlessly in their pursuit of truth and in service to the public”, said Usec Torres.
The event also highlighted recent PNP accomplishments in promoting press freedom, including the arrest of a suspect in the 2005 killing of a journalist—an achievement made possible through the efforts of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in coordination with local authorities and the Philippine Army (PA).
Notably, as of this writing, no journalist killing has been recorded from 2024 to the present—a promising indicator of the current administration’s and PNP’s ongoing efforts to combat impunity and protect press freedom.
In his closing remarks, Police Colonel Tuaño reiterated the PNP’s vigilance in protecting media practitioners: “This relaunch is not merely symbolic—it is a reinforcement of our commitment to bolster the safety and security of media professionals across the country. The role of media in our democracy is critical, and as we evolve, we recognize that their role in the information landscape is more important than ever.”
Meanwhile, PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil conveyed his full support, stating: “Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., PNP is steadfast in its pledge to protect the press. The relaunch of our Media Security Vanguards sends a strong and clear message: Violence and intimidation against journalists have no place in our society. Press freedom is more than a right—it is a pillar of our democracy, and we have the duty to defend and uphold it.”
PTFoMS and PNP, together with their partner agencies, have committed toward continuous training programs, rapid response efforts, and inter-agency collaboration to ensure the safety and security of media professionals across the country.
This relaunch exemplifies a whole-of-government approach to building an informed, safe, and democratic society—a true reflection of Bagong Pilipinas, where safety, freedom, and truth prevail.
