PNP raises safety issues over mediamen joining drug raids

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Members of the media need not be present in all police operations because of safety and security issues, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said Thursday following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to let journalists join the police anti-drug raids.

READ: Duterte to allow media on drug raids to disprove extrajudicial killings

“Our primordial concern when we have the media with us during operation is your safety and security,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“[There were] so many operations that the media were there with us. However, if we see that there is going to be danger posed to the members of the media, hindi namin kayo isusulong doon para kayo ang unang tamaan (we will not put you there to be shot first),” he noted, adding that the media tagging along in police operations has been a practice.

Duterte said on Tuesday that he has ordered the police to let the press join the police anti-drug operations to dispute allegations of extrajudicial killings.

“This is what I told the police. Do not make raids now without the media,” he said in a speech.

Carlos explained that the law requires members of the media to document, immediately after the anti-illegal drug operation, the accounting of the inventory of the evidence recovered from the scene.

“’Pag anti-drug operation, required tayo ng batas (During anti-illegal drug operation, we are required by law), na immediately after the operation and it’s safe already, let the media come in, document it and be part ng pag-account nung (accounting of the) inventory ng mga (of the) evidence na recovered from the scene,” he said. JPV