Police visit to Bacolod newspaper office not meant to intimidate — Albayalde

Policemen’s visit to a newspaper office in Bacolod City was not meant to intimidate its employees, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

Albayalde issued this remark as local police officials have allegedly visited SunStar Bacolod on Wednesday, October 3, reportedly to build partnership.

Asked if the police went to the office to intimidate employees of the said media company, Albayalde said in a press briefing: “Of course not. Hindi naman siguro (I don’t think so).”

He confirmed, however, that the local police only sought for SunStar Bacolod’s “close coordination and collaboration to help inform the Filipino people” on what they really need to know.

Despite the visit, Albayalde assured the PNP appreciates press freedom in the country.

READ: Official statement of NUJP on police directive to partner with media

“Whether it’s bad or good, whether it’s a bad critic or constructive critic, walang problema ‘yan sa amin (we don’t have a problem with that),” he said.

Albayalde also said the PNP has been conducting dialogue with media for a long time.

“We have the ‘Oplan Ugnayan’, ‘yung ‘Santinig’ and ‘Oplan Ugnayan’. Matagal na ‘yan. I don’t know why they are highlighting this pero matagal naman natin na ginagawa ito in close coordination with our media friends,” he added.

(We have the ‘Oplan Ugnayan’ and that  “Oplan Santinig.” It has been happening since before. I don’t know why they are highlighting this but we have been doing this  in close coordination with our media friends.)

“It’s for us to be able to share to the public kung ano ang gusto nating mangyari at mapalapit ‘yung PNP (what we want to happen and for the PNP to be close) to the hearts and minds of our people,” he also said.

According to Albayalde, there wouldn’t have been negative stories about the police from the media if they have been asking for favorable coverage or intimidating media practitioners.  /kga