Senator Koko Pimentel (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday affirmed the right of the people to take videos of public events, places, or even law enforcers performing an operation.
He explained there are no policies that hinder them from doing so.
“Doon lang ako sa [pagdiin ng] right of the people to record. At least klaro na,” he pointed out in a Senate hearing.
(Let me emphasize the right of people to record. At least it’s clear.)
“Para ang mga Philippine National Police [officers] in other places na nanonood sa atin — if it’s a public event, public place — people have the right to record,” said the Senate minority leader.
(For PNP officers in other places who are watching us — if it’s a public event, public place — people have the right to record.)
The Senate inquiry held Wednesday sought to investigate the alleged inhumane and violent acts reportedly perpetrated by the PNP personnel against suspended Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental Mayor Samson Dumanjug.
Pimentel raised his concern after noticing that the complainant’s videos that were presented during the hearing were all taken discreetly.
“We have to emphasize or affirm the right of the people to take video footage of public events, public spectacles, in public places. Why is it not allowed?” Pimentel asked.
“Was there a policy or order to prevent the video recording or witnessing of what was happening on June 16, 2023?” he wondered aloud.
Police Major Richel Sumagang, who led the team that confronted the mayor, clarified no orders were given to prevent the Dumanjugs from taking videos.
But the daughter of suspended Mayor Dumanjug — Charlotte Dumanjug-Panal — presented a video contradicting the officer’s claim.
In the video, Sumagang was heard saying: “I will arrest you for taking a video without my knowledge.”
Asked to explain this, Sumagang said he felt that the complainants were already violating his personal right.
“I told [them] that [they] cannot take a video of me as my private [right],” said Sumagang.
To this, Pimentel made the distinction between a public and a private action.
“I guess that is not personal anymore. You were in uniform. You were there as a police officer,” he told the policeman.
“[Ang] discipline at frame of mind niyo, [dapat] hindi ganon. June 16 yan e [noong] sinabi mong ‘I can arrest you for taking a video without my knowledge’ when you were about to enforce orders,” Pimentel recalled.
(Your discipline and frame of mind should not be like that. That was June 16 when you said, ‘I can arrest you for taking a video without my knowledge’ when you were about to enforce orders.)
“Huwag [niyong] personalin lahat,” he told Sumagang.
(Don’t take everything personally.)
With this, Pimentel sought to improve the training of PNP personnel in handling instances such as this.
“Sa training ninyo, do not think this way. [That’s] public function, public time, public, event, [and] place,” he said.
(In your training, don’t think this way. That’s a public function, public time, public event, and place.)
“[You were] supposed to be enforcing a lawful order, [so there’s] nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to worry about,” he emphasized to the cops.
(You were supposed to be enforcing a lawful order, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to worry about.)
The probe was conducted after Dumanjug sought the help of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
The mayor charged that he had experienced violence in the hands of law enforcers.
In a letter to de la Rosa, the local official alleged that he was “forcibly ejected” from the Mayor’s Office of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental by PNP and some unidentified persons on June 16, 2023.
Dumanjug wrote that the policemen were wearing “full battle gear” and were “equipped with high-powered rifles.”
“[Dumanjug] attested that the PNP personnel physically broke the windows of his office, disarmed and ordered his police escort to lie face-down on the floor, then aimed high-powered firearms at him; forced him to a wheelchair; bound his hands and feet to the said wheelchair; wrapped his head with a malong, and boarded him to an ambulance,” dela Rosa’s resolution read.
The mayor also said he did not know why he was attacked.
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