Photojournalist dies during Traslacion 2026 coverage

Photojournalist Itoh Son passed away while covering this year's Traslacion.

Son was found unconscious near the Manila Police District Station 5 early morning on Friday, Jan. 9. According to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, his colleagues said he was covering the pre-Traslacion activities, including the "pahalik" at Quirino Grandstand, when he suffered a heart attack. He had also experienced flu-like symptoms for several days before the event.

He was rushed to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

"Ang kanyang dedikasyon sa kanyang propesyon sa kabila ng kanyang karamdaman ay patunay ng kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang trabaho at sa paghahatid ng mga mahalagang kaganapan sa publiko. Ang kanyang hindi matatawarang serbisyo sa larangan ng photojournalism ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa iba," Presidential Task Force on Media Security wrote in its statement.

"Nawa'y magsilbi rin itong paalala sa lahat ng media workers na maging mapagmatyag sa kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan habang ginagampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin. Sa gitna ng matinding dedikasyon, huwag kalimutan ang kahalagahan ng pag-aalaga sa sarili upang ipagpatuloy ang paglilingkod ng may pag-iingat at malasakit para sa kapwa," it added.

Son worked for the tabloid newspaper Saksi.