(Bulatlat) MANILA — A month before the elections, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) relaunched on April 13 its Media Safety Office as attacks against the Philippine press persist.

NUJP chairperson Jonathan de Santos said journalists have been continuously barred from covering the election, and are even put under immense pressure over their reports.

Also, since October last year alone, the NUJP documented at least three journalist killings.

“This makes the relaunch of NUJP’s Safety Office very timely,” he said.

The recent case was a broadcaster in Lanao del Norte, Audrey Estrada, who was found dead in her house last March. She sustained 15 stab wounds. Last December, Pampanga-based journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan was shot by unidentified gunmen while inside their store in Calbayog City, Samar.

Through its reactivated Safety Office, the NUJP can better monitor, document, and respond to the different forms of violations to press freedom.

“The increased capacity of the Safety Office will mean quicker and closer monitoring of these attacks against our colleagues,” said De Santos.