 was created by virtue of Republic Act 6975, its mandate is specifically “to serve and protect.”){kind=link}
WHEN the Philippine National Police (PNP) was created by virtue of Republic Act 6975, its mandate is specifically “to serve and protect.” Nowhere in the law, which merged the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police, allowed cops to harass civilians, including journalists.
But the July 22 incident that was caught on video, doesn’t seem to speak well of the PNP, even as various media organizations condemned the police over what looks more like harassment of two photojournalists covering a protest rally in Pasay City.
Cops, who had guns tucked on their waists, ran after news photographers Bullit Marquez and Rene Dilan while taking photos of the protest rally in connection with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ministers’ meeting being held at the CCP Complex.
Among the media organizations which called out media harassment by the so-called “anti-riot policemen” include the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), the Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP), and the National Press Club (NPC).
According to Marquez, who has spent most of his life as news photographer of various media organizations, armed policemen “confronted” and “prevented” them from taking pictures of cops while arresting protesters.
Both Marquez and Dilan were wearing press IDs when police officers attempted to arrest them. He added that cops also tried to handcuff him when his camera fell to the ground during the commotion.
Journalists and photojournalists perform a vital public service by documenting events of public interest. They must be allowed to carry out their work without threats, obstruction, or intimidation,” the PCP said.
Interestingly, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez issued a statement warding off “police harassment” during the confrontation.
In defending the anti-riot cops, Nartatez went as far as saying — “Kung nandoon ako, siguro nakapag-aresto na ‘ko kung nagmura sila [sa mga pulis].”
Meanwhile, the Southern Police District (SPD), in a statement claimed that “several police personnel also sustained injuries” in a commotion during the rally.