ENSURE SAFE MEDIA COVERAGE OF MIDTERM ELECTIONS

As the campaign period for the May 2025 midterm elections draws near, the Movement for Media Safety Philippines calls on both national and local government units, the Commission on Elections, all aspiring candidates and their political parties, as well as law enforcement officials to ensure safe and unhampered media coverage.

It is in the interest of all stakeholders — from government to candidates to Filipino voters — to protect the safety and rights of journalists and media workers covering the midterm polls. A safe media environment is crucial to ensuring clean, credible and orderly elections.

Attacks on journalists are considered violations of the media’s role under the Fair Election Act or Republic Act 9006, the Omnibus Election Code, or the Revised Penal Code, as the case may be.

We call on members of the media to report any act of threat, harassment, illegal detention, torture, or physical violence during the election coverage to mediasafetyph@gmail.com or to the NUJP Safety Hotline 09602784263.

Signed:

Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC)

Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)

University of the Philippines College of Media and Communication (UP CMC)

Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP)

Freedom for Media Freedom for All (FMFA) Coalition

MindaNews

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)

Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON)

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)

Philippine Press Institute (PPI)

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

International Association for Women in Radio and Television-Philippines (IAWRT)

Movement for the Safety and Welfare of Women Journalists (We-Move)

Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ)

Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP)

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

AlterMidya

Bulatlat

Rappler

Sunstar Davao

Bukidnon News.net

Gold Star Daily

Palawan News

Cordillera News Agency

The Ilocos Times

Herald Express

Newscore

Sunday Punch

Northern Dispatch

The Wednesday Herald

Balikas News Network

Mindanao Times

Lucena Herald

Kodao Productions

Iloilo Media-Citizen Council (IMCC)

Batangas Media-Citizen Council (BMCC)

Kordilyera Media-Citizen Council (KMCC)

Central Luzon Media-Citizen Council (CLMCC)

Davao City Media-Citizen Council (DCMCC)

Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild

Cagayan de Oro Press Club (Froilan Gallardo)

Media Association of Sorsogon (Bobby Labalan)

Inday Espina-Varona

Marchel Espina

Voltaire Tupaz (Fyt Media)

Che de los Reyes (International Media Support)

Francis Allan L. Angelo (Daily Guardian)

Julie Alipala (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Jun N. Aguirrre (Boracay Island News Network)

Atty. Ruevivar M. Reyes (Southern Leyte Times)

Edalyn B. Acta (The Capiz Times Publishing)

Josephine M. Mendoza (Calbayog Journal)

Ricky Bautista (The Samar Chronicle)

Mildred Galarpe (SunStar Cebu)

Alma Grafil (Leyte Samar Daily Express Inc.)

Rex Maestrecampo (Panay News)

Rey Garcia (Mindanao Observer)

Jennifer Aquino (Probe Productions)