A collective statement has been circulating on social media deploring the harassment of mainstream media during the 16-day police-Kingdom of Jesus Christ standoff.
We join our colleagues in the journalism community in condemning to highest forms all forms of harassment directed at the media. In our own terms, we also express our strong dissent and protest over dastardly and deceiving acts purportedly made by certain parties in the recent crisis in Davao City as well as the apparent silence of our watchdogs in the society.
Firstly, with the siege at KOJC, whilst our team did not experience any harassment, we are one with those who actually were subjected to unnecessary aggression and insults. Edge Davao’s reportorial team understands the risks of our profession and it is the responsibility of this organization to look after our reporters and photographers on the field. While we are trained to adhere to the rules of engagement, we understand that it is part of our jobs to be exposed to risks — perceived or otherwise.
Secondly, we look at the situation both ways. What we decry the most in the recent KOJC standoff is the way the authorities blatantly trampled upon their own code of ethics, defied the established principles of law, and trampled upon fundamental rights of individuals.
The KOJC siege, more than a manhunt for fugitives who were not even tried in court, is a massacre of laws and human rights.
How else can you respect a police force who themselves betray their very own code of conduct.
For one, the act of dressing civilians in police uniforms to disguise them as police personnel is a violation of Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code which constitutes improper use of police uniforms and insignia by unauthorized individuals.
Article 179 on the “Illegal use of uniforms or insignia” states that “The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon any person who shall publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member.”
This means that offenders may face jail time for one month and one day to at least six months.
When you hear statements from a police general interpreting in his own terms court orders and laws, when you hear him ordering Hitler-like instructions you believe could mean at the cost of human lives and destruction of private property, when you witness machinations like illegal use of uniforms and insignia, you have to be alarmed.
If you have the police doing this operations, you kind of suspect are they thinking they are above the law?
But the most alarming of them all?
The deafening silence of the watchdogs in our society.
All of a sudden the militant groups (we need not name them one by one), the advocates of human rights, the movements against police abuses, where are they?
Making matters worse, Councilor Bonz Militar making a sweeping statement about disinformation did not at all help the situation. Had the councilor directed the statement to the ones making the statements themselves–at that point, General Torre and the PNP spokespersons on one side and the KOJC counsels and leaders on the other–to make truthful statements. Torre, in fact, flip-flopped in his statements when facing the media or facing a Senate hearing. Obviously, the statements from both parties were tailor-fitted to their advantage. This is propaganda warfare. The media, unfortunately is at the receiving end of their statements.
What are we expected to do with Torre’s grandstanding yadi yadi yada for example? Or the angry KOJC mob’s rants? Or Torreon’s laments?
What do you do, sir, if everyone is lying?
Our oath is to our jobs. A covenant of truth, fairness and vigilance.
We will do our job. Please do yours.
