PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Palawan will invite media practitioners here to a briefing on covering police anti-hard drugs operations to prevent misunderstandings and promote transparency.
During a human rights forum here Thursday afternoon, Police Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo, chief of the Human Righst Affairs Office, said, the media briefing is going to be conducted in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s instructions to allow practitioners to cover police operations during anti-hard drugs raids to prevent human rights violations and encourage openness.
No date has been identified on when it will be conducted, but he said it will include training on safety for media practitioners covering police operations.
“You are allowed by the President to cover because he wants transparency. Then you join in a way that the suspects will not see you during operation because it is a set up, and the operation might be bungled because they will see all of you,” Siervo said.
At the forum, police reporters raised their concerns that provincial and city police office only provide basic information of their operations but are requiring the media to sign as witnesses.
“Actually, it is a requirement of the law. If you will be made to sign, it should only be for inventory purposes, not as witnesses to the operation because when the documents are submitted to the prosecutor, you will also be questioned,” he added.
Siervo said they will prioritize the media covering the police beat and in their operations. (PNA)
