PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde clarified on Monday, October 8, that they were not asking for “favorable coverage” from media but only for coordination and collaboration for a better dissemination of information to the public.
“Of course not. ‘Yung favorable coverage edi sana wala nang masasamang comments kayo hindi ba. Pero this is press freedom, whether it's bad or good, whether it's a bad critic of constructive critic, walang problema yan sa amin. We are asking for favors dito. We are asking for close coordination and collaboration to help inform the Filipino people kung ano talaga ang dapat malaman ng ating taumbayan,” he said.
Albayalde made the statement when asked about the reported visit of police officers to SunStar Bacolod office, which according to SunStar Bacolod editor-in-chief Marchel Espina was “bordering on intimidation.”
Espina said based on the account of the staff who entertained the police, they were proposing for the publication of the PNP’s “good deeds” as it seems that the media were just catching the negative news about them.
Espina, however, maintained that SunStar Bacolod has been “very objective” and balance in news reporting.
Albayalde said the visit was just part of the PNP’s Oplan Santinig and Oplan Ugnayan, which aims to enhance the relationship between the police and the public.
He said the police visit in media offices is just a “friendly gesture.”
“Parang ganito ‘yung sa atin, ‘yung ginagawa natin every Monday, so we will keep the Filipino people informed on what's happening lalo na with regards to peace and order. Ganyan din ang gusto natin mangyari sa baba. Even when I was a junior officer, kapag may magandang accomplishment ‘yung pulis natin, nakikiusap tayo na kung pwede i-publish para hindi naman ‘yung puro masasama ‘yung napapublish na ganun. Yun lang ang gusto natin, we want balanced news kaya tayo nakikipag-coordinate sa mga kaibigan natin sa media,” he said.
“Hindi naman ‘yung papasok ka doon na armado,” he added.
Albayalde was referring to the regular Monday press briefing with members of the PNP press corps in Camp Crame.
In a memorandum, Cebu City Police Chief Royina Garma also ordered the police offices under her jurisdiction to “coordinate with local media outlets and embark on partnership programs/activities to showcase the PNP’/s good deeds.”
The memorandum was based on the verbal instruction of the chief PNP, PNP’s Oplan Santinig and memorandum from the national police headquarters.
The order materialized as police visited on Thursday, October 4, the SunStar Cebu office in Cebu City and even asked to take photos of reporters and editors.
The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) denounced the PNP for having such order.
"The media should not be blamed if it reports critical stories, like drug wars, killings, and corruption. It is their duty to the public to report the truth. Government forces must never harass, intimidate, or attack journalists who are just doing their jobs," the NUJP Bacolod said in a statement.
“Authorities are urged to respect the journalists and their duty to the public. They must not intimidate or restrict our rights to gather and spread information. We also call on our colleagues to remain steadfast, unwavering and united,” it added. (SunStar Philippines)