M A L A C A N A N PALACE

MANILA

B Y T H E PRESIDENT OF T H E PHILIPPINES

A D M I N I S T R A T I V E O R D E R NO. 0 1

C R E A T I N G T H E P R E S I D E N T I A L T A S K F O R C E ON V I O L A T I O N S O F T H E R I G H T T O
L I F E , L I B E R T Y AND S E C U R I T Y O F T H E M E M B E R S O F T H E M E D I A

WHEREAS, A r t i c l e I I , Section 1 1 o f t h e 1 9 8 7 C o n s t i t u t i o n declares that t h e State values the

dignity o f every h u m a n person a n d guarantees full respect for h u m a n rights;

WHEREAS, A r t i c l e I I I , Section 1 o f t h e 1 9 8 7 C o n s t i t u t i o n provides that n o person shall be

deprived o f life, liberty o r property w i t h o u t d u e process o f l a w ;

WHEREAS, A r t i c l e I I I , S e c t i o n 2 o f the 1987 C o n s t i t u t i o n provides that t h e right o f the people t o

be secure i n their persons, houses, papers, a n d effects against unreasonable searches a n d seizures o f
whatever nature a n dfor a n y purpose shall be inviolable;

WHEREAS, A r t i c l e I I I , S e c t i o n 1 4 ( 1 ) o f the 1987 C o n s t i t u t i o n provides that n o person shall be

held t o answer for a c r i m i n a l offense w i t h o u t due process o f law;

WHEREAS, A r t i c l e H I , S e c t i o n 18 ( 1 ) o f the 1987 C o n s t i t u t i o n provides that n o person shall be

detained solely b y reason o f his political beliefs a n d aspirations;

WHEREAS, t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s E d u c a t i o n a l , Scientific a n d C u l t u r a l O r g a n i z a t i o n ( U N E S C O )
noted that t h e safety o f journalists a n d t h e prosecution and punishment o f those w h o kill members
o f the m e d i a are essential t o preserve t h e fundamental right t o freedom o f expression, guaranteed b y
Article 19 o f the U n i v e r s a l Declaration o f H u m a n Rights;

WHEREAS, t h e P h i l i p p i n e s is a P a r t y t o various treaties, i n c l u d i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o v e n a n t o n

C i v i l a n d P o l i t i c a l R i g h t s a n d t h e C o n v e n t i o n against T o r t u r e a n d Other C r u e l , I n h u m a n or
D e g r a d i n g T r e a t m e n t o r P u n i s h m e n t , w h i c h recognize every person's inherent right t o life: that n o
one shall be arbitrarily deprived o f life, that n o o n e shall be subjected t o torture, o r t o cruel,
i n h u m a n or degrading treatment o r punishment, a n d that everyone shall have t h e right t o freedoms
o f opinion a n d expression;

WHEREAS, i n M a y 2 0 1 5 , t h e U N E S C O revealed that o n average, o n e j o u r n a l i s t is killed every

w e e k around t h e w o r l d , and t h e C o m m i t t e e t o Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that the Philippines
ranks third i nthew o r l d i n terms o f journalists killed i n the line o f duty;

WHEREAS, according t o t h e H u m a n R i g h t s W a t c h 2 0 1 4 W o r l d Report, t h e Philippines remains t o

be o n e o f the m o s t dangerous places i n t h e w o r l d t o be a j o u r n a l i s t , a n d that k i l l i n g s a n d enforced
disappearances r e m a i n a serious p r o b l e m i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d rarely result i n a successful
prosecution a n dp u n i s h m e n t o f the perpetrator;

THE PRESIDENT OF T H E PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, t h e c o n t i n u i n g a t t a c k o n m e d i a w o r k e r s i s n o t o n l y e r o s i v e o f press f r e e d o m a n d free
expression b u t also impedes t h e f l o w o fi n f o r m a t i o n i na c o m m u n i t y ;

WHEREAS, a free press a n d m e d i a p e r f o r m t h e necessary f u n c t i o n o f p r o v i d i n g accurate, fair a n d

r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h i s v i t a l f o r a free c i t i z e n r y t o p e r f o r m i t s d u t y o f m o n i t o r i n g g o v e r n m e n t
actions a n d c o m m u n i c a t i n g its v i e w s t o t h e government;

WHEREAS, t h e m u r d e r s a n d v i o l e n t incidents against journalists create a n impression o f a culture

o f i m p u n i t y , w h e r e i n security establishments o f the State a n d non-State forces have been accused o f
silencing, t h r o u g h v i o l e n c e a n d i n t i m i d a t i o n , legitimate dissent a n d o p p o s i t i o n raised b y m e m b e r s
o f the press a l o n g w i t h those w h o belong t o cause-oriented groups, p o l i t i c a l m o v e m e n t s , people's
and non-government organizations, a n d b y ordinary citizens;

WHEREAS, m o s t o f these v i o l a t i o n s r e m a i n uninvestigated a n d unsolved, w i t h t h e perpetrators

unidentified o r unprosecuted, g i v i n g rise t ograver impressions o f i m p u n i t y a n d the commission o f
more violent crimes;

WHEREAS, i t is h i g h l y e x i g e n t that these u n s o l v e d cases o f grave v i o l a t i o n s o f the r i g h t t o life,

liberty, a n d security o f persons are revisited, investigated a n d prosecuted until final judicial
determination andpenal conclusion;

WHEREAS, t h e present A d m i n i s t r a t i o n declares as a matter o f p o l i c y that a l l o f these forms o f

political violence a n d abuses o f power, w h e t h e r b y agents o relements o f the State o r o f non-State
forces against t h e m e m b e r s o f the so-called F o u r t h Estate, m u s t stop, a n d t o w a r d s this end, c o m m i t s
to establish a g o v e r n m e n t - w i d e p r o g r a m o f action w h e r e t h e w h o l e system o f t h e bureaucracy is
i n v o l v e d i n t h e efficient, coherent, a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e r e s o l u t i o n o f u n s o l v e d cases o f v i o l e n c e i n
the f o r m o f killings, enforced disappearances, torture, a n d other grave v i o l a t i o n s o f the right t o life,
liberty, a n d security o f persons against t h e m e m b e r s o f the press;

NOW, T H E R E F O R E , I , R O D R I G O R O A D U T E R T E , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s , b y v i r t u e o f
the p o w e r s vested i n m e b y t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a n db y law, d o hereby order:

S E C T I O N 1. D e f i n i t i o n s . F o r p u r p o s e s o f t h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r , t h e f o l l o w i n g t e r m s a r e
hereby defined:

a) "Media Workers" s h a l l r e f e r t o t h o s e w h o a r e e n g a g e d , w h e t h e r a s a p r i n c i p a l o c c u p a t i o n
or n o t , i n m e d i a practice, i n c l u d i n g print, internet, radio broadcast o r commentaries, a n d
television; a n d

b) "Violence against Media Workers" s h a l l r e f e r t o t h e a t t e m p t e d , f r u s t r a t e d o r c o n s u m m a t e d

killings, enforced disappearances, torture a n d other grave v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e right t o life,
liberty a n d security o f M e d i a W o r k e r s w h o w e r e targeted b y reason o fthe media w o r k o f
such persons.

S E C T I O N 2. Creation of a Presidential Task Force. T h e r e i s h e r e b y c r e a t e d a P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k

F o r c e o n V i o l e n c e against M e d i a W o r k e r s , w h i c h s h a l l h a v e t h e m a n d a t e o f e n s u r i n g a safe
e n v i r o n m e n t for M e d i a W o r k e r s . I t shall be composed o f the following:

Chairperson: Secretary, D e p a r t m e n t o f Justice ( D O J )

Co-Chairperson: Secretary, Presidential C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Operations Office ( P C O O )
Members: Secretary, Department o f the Interior a n dL o c a l G o v e r n m e n t ( D I L G ) ;
Secretary, Department o f N a t i o n a l Defense ( D N D ) ;

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 Solicitor General;
Executive Director, Presidential H u m a n Rights Committee ( P H R C ) ;
C h i e f o f Staff, A r m e d Forces o f the Philippines ( A F P ) ;
Director General, Philippine National Police (PNP); and
Director, National Bureau o f Investigation (NBI).

The P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l i n v i t e t h e C h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n H u m a n R i g h t s
( C F I R ) a n d t h e O m b u d s m a n as observers a n d resource persons.

T h e Presidential T a s k Force shall likewise invite the f o l l o w i n g as observers a n d resource persons:

President, N a t i o n a l Press C l u b ( N P C ) ;
President, N a t i o n a l U n i o n o f Journalists o f the Philippines ( N U J P ) ;
P r e s i d e n t , Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas ( K B P ) ;
President, Publishers Association o f the Philippines, Inc. ( P A P I ) ; and
Chairperson-President, Philippine Press Institute ( P P I )

The g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e m a y d e s i g n a t e t h e i r p e r m a n e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o t h e
Presidential T a s k Force, w h oshall h o l d a rank n o t l o w e r than Assistant Secretary, o r General a n d
C h i e f Superintendent i n t h e case o f the A F P a n d t h e P N P , respectively.

S E C T I O N 3. Secretariat. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l o r g a n i z e a S e c r e t a r i a t , c o m p o s e d of
personnel c o m i n g f r o m t h e offices o f the various members, a n d shall b e headed b y t h e Executive
D i r e c t o r w h o s h a l l b e a p p o i n t e d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s stated i n S e c t i o n 6. T h e Secretariat shall b e
attached t o t h e O f f i c e o fthe President a n d shall provide administrative a n d technical support t o the
Presidential T a s k Force, subject t o government rules a n d regulations.

S E C T I O N 4. Functions. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l u n d e r t a k e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

a) Inventory of Cases. F o r t h e first t h i r t y ( 3 0 ) d a y s , t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l c o n d u c t

a n i n v e n t o r y o f a l l cases o f v i o l e n c e against M e d i a W o r k e r s perpetrated b y State a n d non-State
forces a l i k e , f r o m a l l g o v e r n m e n t sources, i.e., t h e i n v e s t i g a t i v e a n d p r o s e c u t o r i a l g o v e r n m e n t
offices, including t h e N a t i o n a l Prosecution Service ( N P S ) , t h e Solicitor General, t h e
O m b u d s m a n , C H R , P N P ,N B I , A F P Inspector General, People's L a w Enforcement B o a r d
( P L E B ) , N a t i o n a l Police C o m m i s s i o n ( N A P O L C O M ) , P N P Internal Affairs Service, t h e
J u d i c i a r y a n d a l l o t h e r s , f o r p u r p o s e s o f c a t e g o r i z i n g said cases, as f o l l o w s :

i. U n s o l v e d Cases;
ii. Cases under Investigation;
iii. Cases under Preliminary Investigation;
iv. Cases under Trial; and
V. Cases under Appeal.

Simultaneously, t h e Presidential Task Force shall also source data o f cases f r o m n o n -

government sources, specifically independent a n d non-partisan international a n d national
h u m a n rights organizations a n d groups.

I n d e t e r m i n i n g w h i c h cases are t o b e included i n t h e i n v e n t o r y , t h e Presidential T a s k F o r c e shall

d r a w u p g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f d o u b t f u l cases.

b) Investigation of Unsolved Cases. A f t e r c o n d u c t i n g t h e i n v e n t o r y , t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k

F o r c e s h a l l p r i o r i t i z e t h e u n s o l v e d cases f o r action, a n d assign special i n v e s t i g a t i o n t e a m s t o
conduct further i n v e s t i g a t i o n o n these cases f o r t h e possible i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f the perpetrators.

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G r e a t e r p r i o r i t y sliall b e g i v e n t o h i g h p r o f i l e cases perpetrated d u r i n g m o r e recent years t o t a k e
advantage o f leads that have y e t t o stale.

c) Monitoring and Reporting to the Presidential Task Force of Cases. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k

Force shall designate a special oversight t e a m composed o f investigators and prosecutors w h i c h
s h a l l a c t i v e l y m o n i t o r d e v e l o p m e n t s o n the cases i n c l u d e d i n the i n v e n t o r y o f cases referred t o
in paragraph (a) above, and regularly report and s u b m i t recommendations t o the Presidential
Task Force.

d) Receive and Monitor Reports on Media Workers in Danger, and Provide Them
Protection. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l r e c e i v e r e p o r t s f r o m g r o u p s , c i t i z e n s a n d
individuals regarding M e d i a W o r k e r s i n danger. T h e Presidential T a s k Force m a y receive f r o m
M e d i a W o r k e r s reports o r notices o f the latter's deployment o r assignment i n hostile o r
dangerous areas, i n c l u d i n g areas under m i l i t a r y operations o r a r m e d conflict. A f t e r receiving
such reports, the Presidential T a s k Force shall conduct m o n i t o r i n g and, i f warranted, provide the
necessary assistance t o the M e d i a W o r k e r s concerned in accordance w i t h existing laws, rules,
and regulations.

e) Investigation and Prosecution of New Cases. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l a l s o

designate a special t e a m o f i n v e s t i g a t o r s a n d prosecutors e x c l u s i v e l y f o r n e w cases, for t h e
i m m e d i a t e investigation and prosecution o f the perpetrators. Cases referred to o rfiled w i t h the
C H R o r the O m b u d s m a n shall b e m o n i t o r e d b y this special t e a m for action o n C F I R and
O m b u d s m a n r e s o l u t i o n s o n said cases, i f applicable. I f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n has a l r e a d y b e e n started
b e f o r e h a n d b y , o r c o m p l a i n t s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n filed w i t h , t h e a g e n c i e s i n c l u d e d i n t h e
Presidential T a s k Force, the special t e a m shall oversee, supervise and m o n i t o r the investigation
or p r e l i m i n a r y investigation conducted b y t h e agencies under t h e Presidential T a s k Force,
notwithstanding t h econduct o fa n ongoing investigation b y t h eC H R o r t h e Ombudsman.
H o w e v e r , the special t e a m shall actively coordinate w i t h the C H R and the O m b u d s m a n i n the
conduct o f these concurrent investigations.

I n the case o f t o r t u r e , the special t e a m shall ensure that S e c t i o n 9 (a) o f R e p u b l i c A c t N o . 9 7 4 5

or the A n t i - T o r t u r e A c t o f 2009 o n the sixty (60)-day period for investigation o f a complaint for
t o r t u r e is f o l l o w e d b y t h e D O J , P u b l i c A t t o r n e y ' s O f f i c e , P N P , N B I , a n d t h e A F P .

f) Action upon the Cases. A f t e r t h e r e p o r t o f e v e r y t e a m , w h i c h s h a l l b e m a d e a s r e g u l a r l y a n d

as e x p e d i t i o u s l y a s p o s s i b l e , w h e t h e r i n t h e f o r n : i o f s h o r t m e m o r a n d a , e m a i l , n o t e s , field s p o t
reports, S h o r t Message Service ( S M S ) messages, a n d the like, either o f the Presidential T a s k
F o r c e Chairpersons m a y take i m m e d i a t e action w i t h o u t need o f consultation or agreement o f the
other m e m b e r s o r consensus w i t h t h e concerned m e m b e r o f the Presidential T a s k Force;
Provided, that i f the action i s w i t h i n the jurisdiction o f agencies under the D O J , o n l y t h e
Secretary o f Justice is authorized t o order the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the i m m e d i a t e action. I n any
case, the said C h a i r p e r s o n s h a l l h a v e t h e d i s c r e t i o n t o table a n y m a t t e r f o r discussion a n d
decision o f the Presidential T a s k Force, especially i n the instance o f h i g h p r o f i l e or problematic
cases.

g) Receive and Act upon Complaints. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l r e c e i v e , p r o c e s s a n d

t a k e n e c e s s a r y a c t i o n u p o n c o m p l a i n t s o f a b u s e a n d o t h e r a c t s o f v i o l e n c e filed b y M e d i a
W o r k e r s i n coordination w i t h t h e D O J a n d i n accordance w i t h existing laws, rules, a n d
regulations.

h) Aid in Witness Protection. T h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e s h a l l a i d i n f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e

protection o f witnesses according to Republic A c t N o . 6981 (Witness Protection, Security and

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 Benefit A c t ) upon t h e request o f t h e D O J i n accordance w i t h Article 2 o f the Witness
Protection, Security and Benefit Act.

i) Submission of Report to the President. A f t e r t h e f i r s t s i x ( 6 ) m o n t h s f r o m i t s c r e a t i o n , a n d

every s i x ( 6 ) m o n t h s thereafter, t h e Presidential T a s k Force shall submit a report t o t h e
President, d e t a i l i n g t h e inventory o f cases according t o category, a n d describing t h e
a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a n d p r o g r e s s m a d e f o r e a c h case, o r t h e p r o b l e m s a n d o b s t a c l e s e n c o u n t e r e d ,
h i g h l i g h t i n g p r o b l e m a t i c cases, w i t h further r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r a n y a d d i t i o n a l action that
m a y be taken b y the President requiring coordination o n a c o m m o n course o f action w i t h the
C H R , t h e O m b u d s m a n , Congress, a n d t h e Judiciary.

S E C T I O N 5. The Presidential Task Force Spokesperson. T h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e P C O O a l o n e s h a l l

be authorized t o m a k e p u b l i c statements o n matters concerning t h e activities o f t h e Presidential
T a s k Force. Unless otherwise ordered b y t h e Secretary o f the P C O O , t h e E x e c u t i v e Director m a y
also m a k e public pronouncements b u t o n l y o n matters related t o t h e administrative functions o f the
Presidential Task Force.

S E C T I O N 6 . The Presidential Task Force Executive Director. T h e E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r o f t h e

Presidential T a s k Force shall be appointed b y t h e President upon recommendation b y t h e
Chairpersons o f t h e Presidential T a s k Force. H eshall have t h e rank o f Undersecretary a n d shall
receive compensation, benefits a n d other emoluments accorded t o t h e said r a n k i n accordance w i t h
appl icable laws, rules a n d regulations.

S E C T I O N 7 . Coordination and Autonomy of Members. N o t h i n g i n t h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r

shall be interpreted t o a d d t o bureaucratic processes o r regulations i n order t o achieve t h e mandate
o f t h e Presidential T a s k Force o r hamper t h e regular a n d ordinary course o f functions o f the
agencies under t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e Presidential T a s k Force members. N o t h i n g i n this
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r shall d i m i n i s h t h e mandates, functions a n d responsibilities o f the support
agencies. T h e i n d i v i d u a l agencies shall n o t b e prevented f r o m accomplishing w h a t otherwise is
ordinarily accomplished i n t h e regular conduct o f their operations a n d functions, unless otherwise
specifically agreed upon b y t h e Presidential T a s k Force f o r purposes o f coordinating a n d
i m p l e m e n t i n g concerted action for the achievement o f the Presidential T a s k F o r c e mandates.

S E C T I O N 8 . Funding. T h e i n i t i a l f u n d i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k
F o r c e s h a l l b e d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f B u d g e t a n d M a n a g e m e n t ( D B M ) , subject t o
compliance w i t h existing l a w s a n d t h e usual g o v e r n m e n t budgetary, accounting a n d auditing rules
and regulations. A p p r o p r i a t i o n s for t h e succeeding years shall b e incorporated i n t h e regular budget
proposals o f i n v o l v e d agencies.

S E C T I O N 9 . Support and Cooperation. A l l b r a n c h e s o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , d e p a r t m e n t s , b u r e a u s ,

agencies, offices, a n d local g o v e r n m e n t units, including g o v e r n m e n t - o w n e d o r -controlled
corporations, a r e hereby enjoined t o render full support, assistance a n d cooperation t o t h e
P r e s i d e n t i a l T a s k F o r c e i n c a r r y i n g o u t its m a n d a t e a n d f u n c t i o n s .

S E C T I O N 10. Separability. I f a n y p r o v i s i o n o f t h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r i s d e c l a r e d i n v a l i d o r
unconstitutional, t h e other provisions unaffected shall remain valid a n d subsisting.

S E C T I O N 11. Repeal. T h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r s u p e r s e d e s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r N o . 3 5 ( s .
2 0 1 2 ) o n t h e creation o f t h e I n t e r - A g e n c y C o m m i t t e e o n E x t r a - L e g a l K i l l i n g s o n l y insofar as i t
covers incidents o f violence against M e d i a W o r k e r s . T h e said Inter-Agency C o m m i t t e e is hereby
directed t o s u b m i t a n d t u r n o v e r i t s relevant documents, data, reports, a n d resources t o t h e
Presidential T a s k Force, subject t o regular procedures. A l l issuances, orders, rules, a n d regulations

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or parts t h e r e o f w h i c h a r e inconsistent w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f this A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r are hereby
repealed o r modified accordingly.

S E C T I O N 12. Effectivity. T h i s A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r s h a l l t a k e e f f e c t i m m e d i a t e l y u p o n a p p r o v a l .

DONE, i n t h e C i t y o f M a n i l a , t h i s H t h d a y o f O c t o b e r , i n the year o f O u r Lord, T w o

Thousand and Sixteen.

B y the President:

SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA
Executive Secretary /V

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