THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has expressed concern over the reported “surprise visits” of policemen in the residences of media personnel in a bid to ensure their safety following the killing of veteran radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid.
The NUJP said while the police’s efforts to reach out to journalists are “welcome and encouraging,” it also violates a person’s right to privacy.
“Assuming good faith, these meetings and dialogues are best done through newsrooms or through the various press corps, press clubs and journalists' organizations in the capital,” it said in a statement on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
“Far from making us feel safe, the visits add to our anxiety as these were done without coordination with newsrooms,” it added.
The organization urged the police, particularly the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), to arrange such dialogues through formal channels to avoid further misunderstandings.
It also called on the police to take note of and address online threats against media personnel, including the “baseless” red-tagging “that many in the community have had to endure.”
In a Tweet, GMA News reporter JP Soriano said that a policeman, in civilian clothes, went to his house and asked about his condition.
Soriano said the police showed his identification card and talked to him politely.
He said the police asked if he could take his photo to which he politely declined.
NCRPO Director Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo confirmed that there was an order for policemen to do such “to know if there are threats on their lives and of their families in order to assess the security assistance that we have to accord to them.”
He said he immediately ordered all commanders from district directors down to the chiefs of police and station commanders under his jurisdiction to stop and refrain from doing the same.
Estomo said the police officer was already identified and summoned while an investigation will be carried out by the concerned police station.
“Unfortunately, a police officer reportedly to have visited a media personality in civilian clothes. The intention is good but unfortunately, this has caused undue alarm and fear,” he said.
“Though we have a good intention for this endeavor, I personally apologize to all our media friends, and investigation is already in place pertaining to this incident,” Estomo added. (SunStar Philippines)