Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has expressed strong concerns on the recent allegations of harassment against members of the media by the Philippine National Police even as he warned against “overstepping law enforcement agents” being the “new normal” in the coming days.
At the same time, the former governor of the now-defunct ARMM called on the PNP leadership to investigate and get to the bottom of the incident that happened Thursday morning where a reporter of DZBB/GMA7, after concluding a simple traffic report, was questioned and intimidated by a group of policemen in Marikina.
“Magpapatawag pa lang kami ng imbestigasyon laban sa mga pulis Maynila na tila lumabis sa kanilang kapangyarihan kamakailan lamang, makakarinig na naman tayo ng ganitong kwento. Ngayon naman, taga-GMA7 ang nagrereklamo. Hindi ba nakaka-pangamba na ang nangyayari?” Hataman lamented.
“Nananawagan ako sa PNP leadership na imbestigahan ito at ang iba pang kaso ng media harassment at parusahan kung natagpuang lumabis sa otoridad ang nagkasala. Hindi lamang re-assignment na pwede pa silang magpatuloy sa kanilang pang-aabuso. Hindi dapat ito ang maging ‘new normal’ sa pagpapatupad ng batas,” he added.
In a viral post by DZBB’s Mark Makalalad, whose coverage includes the PNP and Department of National Defense, he recounted how he was intimidated and questioned by four Marikina policemen after making a simple traffic report along Marcos Highway. He said the police told him, “baka kalaban ka” and that he should seek permission first before taking a video of law enforcers.
“Bakit bawal kayo mahagip ng media video? May ginagawa ba kayong masama? I would like to think wala naman. Ibalik natin ang tiwala ng taongbayan sa ating mga kapulisan. Magsisimula yan sa magandang example ng ating mga law enforcers,” Hataman asked.
Hataman related an incident where two Muslim traders were arrested without a warrant recently and had their house searched without a court order.
“Kung nagagawa nila ito sa karaniwang negosyante, lalo na sa mga miyembro ng ating ‘4th Estate,’ paano na ang ating mga kababayan? Paano na ang mga walang kaya sa buhay at hindi maipagtanggol ang mga sarili? This should not be the case, and I think the PNP should come up with clear-cut policies on protecting rights and re-indoctrinate its police force on the concept of the greater good,” the Basilan lawmaker said.
“These kinds of harassments put more doubts on the Anti-Terrorism Bill and the propensity of some of our law enforcement officers who will be enforcing this measure to go overboard, misuse and abuse the law either for personal benefit or for convenience and expedience,” he added.
Hataman said there should be a stiffer penalty for erring enforcers of the law.
“Hindi lang puro sa karaniwang tao naka-direct ang penalty, dapat mas mataas ang parusa doon sa mga taong ang trabaho ay protektahan ang mga mamamayan.”
Hataman also took note of the statement of PNP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, who said they are seeking clarification from the Marikina police on the incident, and that there is no policy that requires the media to seek permission or clearance from the police when making a live report in public places.
“I laud this development, and I ask the PNP to come up with clear rules on how its officers should handle media coverage. Pero dapat, malinaw kung ano ang penalty kung lalabag sila dito. I am not saying the media should get preferential treatment, but media coverage should also be a police-protected event,” Hataman stated.
“Dahil kung overstep lang ng overstep ang gagawin ng ating mga pulis, darating ang panahon na ito na ang new normal and the people will be desensitized on the misuse and abuse of police authority.”
