President Marcos has decided not to extend the term of office of journalist Paul Gutierrez as the executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).

In a letter dated Sept. 12, 2024, to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the expiration of Gutierrez' term takes effect immediately.

"This refers to the expiration of the tenure of Mr. Paulino Malinay Gutierrez as Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. On behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., this is to inform you that the expiration of his tenure shall take effect immediately,” the letter read.

In a text message on Wednesday morning, Sept. 18, acting Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said there was no replacement for Gutierrez yet.

Gutierrez, a former president of the National Press Club (NPC), likewise confirmed the expiration of his terms as PTFoMS executive director in a statement. He thanked President Marcos for the opportunity to serve.

"I thanked President Marcos for the opportunity to serve under his administration even for the brief duration of 1 year and 14 weeks since my appointment on May 25, 2023," he said.

"His decision to continue with the PTFoMS is the clearest message to all that he is committed to creating a safe media environment where every member of the press can practice their profession responsibly, professionally, and without fear," he added.

PTFoMS under Gutierrez

Under his leadership, Gutierrez said the PTFoMS helped solve five violent attacks against the press that happened under the Marcos administration while helping solve two more cases of media killings under the previous administration.

"We also promptly and diligently assisted in resolving all incidents of threats and harassment by the members of the press brought to our attention. Those we assisted can attest to this," he said.

"The database (most wanted list) of all suspects in the killing of journalists, the first of its kind, has also been completed, ready for release to the public," he added.

In this same period, the PTFoMS managed to strike a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) whereby indigent members of the press, especially in the country’s far-flung areas, would be assisted for free by the PAO in their legal cases related to their work as journalists.

The PTFoMS likewise signed a MOA with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that would ensure the rights and security of journalists during the entirety of the election period.

They are now finalizing the MOA with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to protect the rights of the media and strengthen the media’s relationship with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"All of these are the 'first' to happen in the seven-year history of the PTFoMS and all of them under the Marcos administration," Gutierrez said.

Controversy

Last month, former Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer Jimmy Guban linked Gutierrez along with Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte; lawyer Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte; and former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) undersecretary Benny Antiporda; and Chinese national Michael Yang to the P6.8-billion "shabu" shipment in 2018.

Gutierrez denied the accusations against him and asked lawmakers in the House of Representatives to review Guban's previous claims in congressional hearings on the 2018 shabu shipment so they would realize that Guban was an "inveterate liar."

He added that Congress would become a laughing stock if they believed in Guban's claims.

Despite this, Gutierrez said he was ready to face the allegations hurled against him.

"Makakaasa po ang ating mga mambabatas, ang ating pong publiko na nakahanda pong humarap itong inyong lingkod, unang-una po ay dahil nga po malinis ang ating konsyensya at alam po nating puro kasinungalingan po itong nilubid ni Mr. Jimmy Guban (The lawmakers and the public can trust that I will face them because my conscience is clear and we know these are all lies spun by Mr. Jimmy Guban)," he said.

Guban was one of the surprise witnesses of the expansive four-panel probe on the alleged interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), illegal drugs, and extrajudicial killings during the previous Duterte administration's drug war.