Photojournalist mauled by Davao policemen during relief goods looting

MANILA -- A photographer working for a national broadsheet was allegedly mauled by Davao City policemen on Tuesday while covering Typhoon "Pablo" victims who ransacked and took away relief goods from an office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Karlos Manlupig of the Philippine Daily Inquirer was hit with truncheons in the head, arms and other parts of his body and policemen shoved him using anti-riot shields.

While interviewing a protester inside the DSWD regional office, six policemen approached Manlupig and accused him of only taking pictures of protesters hurt in the violent dispersal.

Manlupig denied this as policemen allegedly hurt him instead.

"The policemen had no right to physically assault a member of the press who is only doing his job," said PDI Mindanao bureau chief Nico Alconaba.

JB Deveza, NUJP Mindanao media safety office coordinator, has yet to comment if Manlupig will file cases against the policemen. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)