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August 14 , 2007
Statement of NUJP-Bulacan chapter condemning the conduct unbecoming of two members of the 306th provincial mobile group based in San Rafael, Bulacan
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bulacan chapter
is demanding an immediate investigation and denouncing the conduct unbecoming
of two members of the 306 th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) displayed on
August 13, 2007 at Brgy. Iba O'Este, Calumpit, Bulacan.
Rommel Ramos, 31, single, is a resident of Bagna, Malolos City, and
currently writing for PUNTO, and NewsCore newspaper, and a Stringer of
GMA-7.
He was the victim of arrogance and conduct unbecoming of an officer by
a certain PO2 Isagani Santos III, and companion, a fellow police officer
of lower rank.
Ramos was covering the seizure of counterfeit P1,000 bills by the 306th PMG at Barangay Iba O'Este, Calumpit on Monday after a call from Supt. Prudencio Legazpi who requested the media for coverage.
Ramos was taking footages of the arrested suspects for GMA 7's news program 24 Oras, when he sensed that cellular phones were being pushed towards his face.
He asked the police officers why they are taking a video of him, but they didn't answer, prompting Ramos to comment, "Bago yan sa pitong taon kong pagiging reporter, kina-camera ang isang nagka-camera."
One of the police officers arrogantly retorted, "Kung hindi sa amin ay wala kayong istorya ngayon!"
Ramos walked out but he was followed by the unidentified police officer who was deterred by Boy Cruz, a photographer of the Pilipino Star Ngayon.
The said police officer, known only by his rank as "POI", threatened Ramos saying, "Mag-iingat ka! Sibilyan ka lang!"
Ramos said that the senior police officers present at that time only protested weakly, saying, "Tama na yan" in weak voices.
As a member of the press, Ramos (and the rest of NUJP-Bulacan) fully understands how to respect men in uniform.
But the actions showed by the two members of the 306th PMG is plainly arrogant and unbecoming of police officers.
The NUJP-Bulacan chapter fully understands that the motto of the police is to serve and protect, but the actions of the members of the 306th PMG proved otherwise. We don't need police officers like them who hardly resemble what a police officer and gentleman should be.
This is not only patently unprofessional and immoral but abjectly uncivilized, if not inhuman. And most assuredly unchristian.
Reference:
Dino Balabo, NUJP-Bulacan
chairperson