MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) Around 50 Filipino journalists covering the situation in evacuation centers in Mindanao were briefly held by the military in Maguindanao province for lack of “clearance,” one of the journalists told INQUIRER.net on Tuesday.

Jaime Espina, a former editor of INQUIRER.net and vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said he and his colleagues on board eight vehicles were briefly held at a security checkpoint in Guindulungan town at around 7 a.m.

The journalists, coming from both Metro Manila and different areas in Mindanao, were about to cover the situation in evacuation centers in Datu Piang town when they were barred by the military for lack of clearance from the 601st Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Medardo Geslani, Espina said.

“They specifically said not to release us without clearance,” Espina said.

But the reporters were released an hour after with no apparent reason, he said.

Espina criticized the military for temporarily barring the reporters to visit the evacuation centers.

“Walang dahilan para pahintuin kami (There was no reason for them to stop us). There was no need for us to coordinate with them. Bakit kami ihohold at bakit media pa (Why hold us and why media)?” he said.

When reached for comment, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr. said the incident was merely a “security check” conducted by the military because of the recent bombings in the province.

“That was just a security check because of the bombings yesterday. They were just released a few minutes ago,” Brawner said, referring to the bombing incident in the province on Monday that left at least two people dead.

But Espina said the military should not stop journalists from doing their jobs.

“Alam natin yung tungkulin natin (We know our job),” he added.

The journalists from media organizations including the Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA7, and Manila Times, among others came from all over the country for a joint coverage hoping to get through the military gauntlet in the affected areas.

The military has been regulating access into Liguasan Marsh towns since government troops started shelling some areas in April.