THE Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas assigned Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, chief of the regional police information office, as the focal person for media security for the coming 2022 national and local elections.
Brigadier General Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot, police regional director, said Rentuaya’s additional assignment is in response to the directive of the Department of Interior and Local Government to assign police personnel at all levels who could facilitate and hasten the process in providing protection to the members of the media in case media workers face threats or intimidation during the election period.
“This step is the request of the Presidential Task Force of Media Security in anticipation of a possible increase in violent incidents involving media personnel during this election period,” said Cabagnot.
“However, the media should also coordinate with the police authorities from time to time, especially if they receive threats in any form,” he added.
Public information officers of every city and provincial police offices were also tasked to act as focal persons in their respective areas.
Assigned personnel were Lieutenant Hazel Vacal for Leyte Police Provincial Office, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Nalda for Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office, Lieutenant Colonel Teodora Salarza for Biliran Police Provincial Office, Lieutenant Aileen Velarde for Samar Police Provincial Office, Lieutenant Verna Cesista For Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office, Lieutenant Colonel Bonifacio Ricafort for Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, Major Charmaine Cartalla for Tacloban City Police Office, and Executive Master Sergeant Maria Rachel Salas for Ormoc City Police Office.
Meanwhile, Cabagnot assured the public that Eastern Visayas “is a safe place for the media profession.”
"I'm calling to our friends in the media to be objective and ethical. If you are doing your job responsibly, fair, and just, I believe there is no reason for anyone to throw threats against you,” the police official said.
“But, if there is indeed or you have that feeling of fear, the police is always ready to be of service and assist you in any way our law mandates," Cabagnot added. (SunStar Philippines)