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Update
April 8, 2008
NUJP seeks probe on media harassment
claim
By Rimaliza Opiņa, Sunstar
THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) asked the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into the
reported harassment done by a government official on Elena Catajan and
Redjie Melvic Cawis, correspondents of the broadsheet Malaya.
At the same time, the NUJP also lamented the police's reaction over the incident particularly Cordillera Police Regional Director Eugene Martin's statement that Cawis and Catajan's version were "exaggerated."
"How can any ordinary citizen expect protection from our law enforcement agencies when even journalists are threatened or worse in the course of their work are brushed aside," said NUJP chairperson Jose Torres Jr.
The NUJP stressed the incident is a clear indication how some people practice oppression to the press, especially community journalists.
"The incident is a classic example of how, in the Philippines, petty warlord-politicians can lord it over isolated communities, wielding virtual life and death powers that have time and again proven fatal for vigilant community journalists," said Torres.
Last week, Catajan and Cawis figured in an incident in Alfonso Lista town in Ifugao when during an interview, Vice Mayor Clarence Polig accused the two of "trespassing" when they failed to show a "work order" for them to conduct an interview.
Polig was said to be intoxicated at that time. The two decided to leave after sensing that the situation was getting out of hand. It was at this point when "someone" from the official's group cocked a gun.
Clearly, the incident is an example of how vulnerable community journalists become, the NUJP said, while pointing out that most of the media killings in the country took place in the provinces.
"It is bad enough that so many of our colleagues have fallen in places much like Polig's kingdom. But to have police officers like Martin backing him up can only make it infinitely dangerous not only for journalists but for ordinary citizens.
Continued inaction by the National Government can only seal more death warrants not just for journalists but for press freedom," the media group said.