SMF - Just Installed!
The request was made in General Order No. 1 implementing Proclamation No. 216, which declared martial law in Mindanao and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. It was signed May 30."The role of the media is vital in ensuring the timely dissemination of true and correct information to the public," the order stated."Media practitioners are therefore requested to exercise prudence in the performance of their duty so as not to compromise the security and the safety of the Armed Forces and law enforcement personnel, and enable them to effectively discharge their duties and functions under this Order."< snipped >The Department of National Defense, meanwhile, issued a clarification on this particular section of the general order. “The public has the right to know what is happening on the ground. However, there is a need for us to balance this right with matters that affect national security,” the department said in a statement.The DND then asked the media not to put the Filipino troops at risk by divulging information that threaten operational security.“Pictures and vital information like troop disposition, location, composition, unit size, and capability of military equipment used should be kept confidential and not openly shared, specially in social media,” it read.“In addition, we ask our friends from the media and the general public to be very discerning in airing out obvious propaganda materials from the enemy. This might cause undue panic and may affect operations being conducted by our security forces,” the statement added.
