Manila, April 26 -- The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is on heightened alert in the wake of reported threats and violence against journalists amid the election season.

"Ang (The) Presidential Task Force on Media Security ay (is) on alert these weeks, especially ahead of the midterm elections," PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said in a weekly news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Torres cited the case of dzRH reporter Romeo Benas who was threatened by La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph Bernos through Facebook messenger and a video call on April 21.

Torres said the PTFoMS is currently working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) amid the investigati...