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Palace backs arrest of media men

Malacañang yesterday backed Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on arresting media persons who violate the law next time a crisis such as the Manila Peninsula standoff takes place.

“Everybody should follow the law,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

Ermita said the media persons who were brought to the headquarters of the Metro Manila police after the standoff Thursday last week also could not complain of having been handcuffed because it is part of police procedure.

Fifty-one members of various media organizations were rounded up after the standoff, their hands tied by plastic restraints, in what police said was a move to identify them as some Magdalo soldiers reportedly eluded arrest after posing as media men.

The media men were released late Thursday.

Puno, in a dialogue with representatives of media organizations Wednesday, said that in future police operations, journalists who fail to comply with an order to leave a crime scene will be arrested.

Puno also said the media men who refused to leave during the standoff served as a “physical barrier” to police authorities out to arrest Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and his group.

Media representatives called the arrest unconstitutional and argued that those who covered the standoff never got in the way of the police.

Ermita also said the dialogue was still successful despite some heated debates and the complaints.

“Nagpasingawan lang ng sama ng loob,” he said.

The PNP said it is considering turning some “arrested” media personalities as witnesses against Trillanes.

Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr., PNP spokesman, said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is preparing letters of invitation to a number of reporters and crewmembers to submit their testimonies of what they witnessed during the siege.

“We need them as witnesses to corroborate the physical evidence we will present before the hearing judge,” Pagdilao said.

Though the media was partly blamed for the escape of some Magdalo soldiers during the standoff, Pagdilao said media men who covered the incident could provide investigators a clearer picture of what transpired at the hotel.

In the case of the Boston police and the media, the two parties came up with a common protocol after an almost similar incident on news coverage happened there, he said.

Pagdilao also refuted a claim of Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin that the police pointed their guns at members of the media covering the siege.

“It doesn’t mean na media ang target noon. We must remember na may mga armed men pa sa loob. The police are trained to fire their guns only in defense,” Pagdilao said.

The Commission on Human Rights said a clear-cut policy on operational procedures between the police and media men covering a particular event should be outlined.

CHR chief Purificacion Quisumbing made the statement at the first public hearing on a complaint filed by the National Press Club against officials of the PNP and the interior department.

Present during the hearing were Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus. Director Geary Barias, Metro Manila police chief, and Supt. Joel Coronel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The NPC led by Roy Mabasa sued the government officials for arbitrary arrest and detention of members of the media, abusive and inhumane manner in carrying out the arrests, violation of R.A. 7438 concerning Miranda rights, the violation of press freedom, illegal confiscation of media equipment, and grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority and discretion.

Coronel said they did not commit any human rights violation against the arrested media practitioners. He said all procedures they undertook were part of operational guidelines.

“We arrested the media men who came down with Trillanes when he surrendered because we considered them as possible suspects. We handcuffed them and read them their Miranda rights when they were brought to Camp Bagong Diwa and investigations were about to commence,” he said.

He also said the police did not curtail the right of the media men to perform their jobs but “only controlled” it. He said they repeatedly notified the media to leave the area because they were ready to begin their operation. – Regina Bengco, Raymond Africa and Job Realubit

Published inMediaMilitary

46 Comments

  1. Supt Joel Coronel of the CIDG said, “We handcuffed them and read them their Miranda rights when they were brought to Camp Bagong Diwa and investigations were about to commence.”

    It’s not true that they read to us our rights.I’m astounded by the lies that they peddle.

    What do you call a person who does not tell the truth?

  2. chi chi

    “Everybody should follow the law,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

    OK, tell that to Gloria!

    ***

    “What do you call a person who does not tell the truth?”

    Gloriaric?!

    Joel Coronel of the CIDG, Superintendent of Lying Dept.

  3. balweg balweg

    Hi Ellen/Chi,

    What law they’re talking about? They are the laws of our country.

    GMA is above the LAW. If there is existing laws in our country today, they’re the first one to put in Munti…KASO, treason,conspiracy and rebellion!

    Case: Peoples of the Philippines AGAINST GMA, Tabako and Co.
    Date: January 20, 2001

    Unresolved Case due to unfair law practices in our corrupted Sumpreme Court.

  4. Heheh! I like Balweg’s take:

    Case: Peoples of the Philippines AGAINST GMA, Tabako and Co.
    Date: January 20, 2001

    Unresolved Case due to unfair law practices in our corrupted Sumpreme Court.

  5. balweg balweg

    Good day AdeBrux,

    GMA says that the full force of law will be applied to AT4/Gen. Lim and co. that’s fine, ano problema doon.

    But a big big question? If she (GMA)is a geniune President in our country? Pag PEKE? Invalid lahat ang transactions and nobody honor it.

    Possibly, only Justice Davide and A. Puno will accept and promulgating this verdict against AT4/Gen. Lim and co. the same last January 20, 2001.

    Di ba copycat yon!!! Pang Hall of Fame talaga itong GMA regime na ito.

  6. vic vic

    Secretary Ermita keep saying that member of the media will be arrested again if they break the law, which law? and why if they had broken the law, nobody been charged?? is that the way justice done in the Philippines? maybe that the reason why even if the the same people, ( i am talking now about your own people, secretary) can break the law and still don’t get charged…not even arrested…

  7. Good evening to you Balweg!

    Oo nga ano? “But a big big question? If she (GMA)is a geniune President in our country? Pag PEKE? Invalid lahat ang transactions and nobody honor it.”

    Eh, paano na nga yan? Dahil kung fake ang mandate niyan, paano na? Kanino magrereklamo? Kay Puno ng PNP?

  8. Good point, Vic — “maybe that the reason why even if the the same people, ( i am talking now about your own people, secretary) can break the law and still don’t get charged…not even arrested…”

    Edong, calling, Edong Ermita! Sagutin mo na si Vic Edong! Si Garci at si Bedol bakit hindi man lang na-question o naimbistigahan ng PNP?

  9. d0d0ng d0d0ng

    “Supt. Joel Coronel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said that they repeatedly notified the media to leave the area because they were ready to begin their operation.” – Regina Bengco, Raymond Africa and Job Realubit

    This is corroborated by ABS CBN correspondent Ces Drillon and production unit manager Ruper Ambil. “Drilon said she received a telephone call from PNP Director General Avelino Razon telling her and the media to leave the hotel. Ambil said that as senior crewman on-site, he gave the crewmen the choice to leave because of the impending tear gas assault” – ABS CBN

    There is overwhelming evidence that media refused to leave the crime scene (following forced entry by Trillanes and company on Manila Penn despite initial resistance by Hotel security people).

  10. atty36252 atty36252

    There is overwhelming evidence that media refused to leave the crime scene (following forced entry by Trillanes and company on Manila Penn despite initial resistance by Hotel security people).
    **********************

    So sue them. I am underwhelmed by the self-serving statement of one police character; I mean officer. Puro daldal. Puro I will sue you if you sue me.

  11. Agree Atty, “So sue them. I am underwhelmed by the self-serving statement of one police character; I mean officer. Puro daldal. Puro I will sue you if you sue me.”

  12. Re: ““Drilon said she received a telephone call from PNP Director General Avelino Razon telling her and the media..”

    Bakit si Drillon na ba ang assistant ni Razon kaya ang message was made through her for media to leave the hotel? B

    Did Razon tell every single member of media in Manila Pen the instruction to leave the hotel?

  13. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Dapat may lie detector kay CIDG Supt. Joel Coronel. Baka sa tindi ng kasungalingan, ma-overload at sasabog ang lie detector machine. Ang CIDG ay matinik sa planting at manufacturing evidence.

  14. I heard it on radio, atty, that ABS CBN’s News Chief Maria Ressa will be cited in contempt by CIDG if she did not obey the subpoena of the CIDG to present to them the raw video tapes and disks. Pwede bang gaiwn yun ng police? Pwede na palang mag-subpoena ang imbestigador, tapos siya na rin ang magkukulong sa iyo!

    Sabi ko nga undeclared martial law e.

  15. Pero sabi ni dOdong, puwede daw mag-complain ang journalist sa CHR and to the police… complain after the fact or before the fact? O kung patay na?

    Labo labo na talaga sa Pinas!

  16. balweg balweg

    Tama ka klasmayt AdeBrux.

    But we need to love and care our country most. Pag-iniwanan natin ito eh for sure mag-eenjoy ang kampong ni GMA, Tabako at Devinecia.

    Di ba gusto nilang mag CHACHA, eh si TABAKO ang promotor nito since noong presidente pa yan. Eh ngayon nga gusto muling buhayin. PAPAYAG BA TAYO? 100% NO

  17. atty36252 atty36252

    Tongue:

    Court lang at ang legislature ang may contempt powers. Nasa korte na ang kaso, dapat na lang tumahimik ang mga pigs, baka sila ma-contempt ng court.

    Daig pa pala ng CIDG ang mga tongressman, napalitan ang batas. Actually, malakas pa sa cha-cha yan, dahil pati constitution nasagasaan.

  18. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    CHACHA ni Gloria kamo. Gustong buhayin ang Zombie. Ito ay squid tactics o panakip-butas para maka-iwas sa payola eskandalo, imbestigasyon sa kurakutan at panloloko sa taumbayan.

  19. balweg balweg

    Mga Klasmayts see you tomorrow sleep muna.

    GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

  20. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    Ellen: “It’s not true that they read to us our rights.I’m astounded by the lies that they peddle.” I also heard TV Patrol news confirming that story, that no such thing was read by the police.

    Manang-mana talaga sa kanilang among sinungaling.

  21. HG,

    What’s new… Gloria and her alipores have to lie in order to survive.

  22. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    AdB, yeah. Nothing new really, survival has become a tall order from top to bottom under GMA’S bureau-CRAZY.

    Some people wrote about Marcos (“The Politics of Plunder”) and Erap (“The Erap Tragedy”). Any taker for Gloria? (maybe titled “How to Survive in Philippine Politics”)

  23. HG,

    How ’bout, “Gloria, Philippine Tradpols’ Best Survival Tactician”?

    or

    “Gloria Macapagal: How To Lie, Cheat, And Steal In Politics And Win”?

    or

    “Gloria Macapagal: Master of the Art of Lying, Cheating and Stealing in Politics”

    Mukhang mahaba yata…?

  24. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    hmmm. sige. let’s think of a better title. gusto ko ung second. it sounds like “how to cheat, lie or steal and get away with it.”

  25. Mrivera Mrivera

    andami ninyong iniisip na title.

    dapat d’yan, “gloria, sinungaling, mangnanakaw, madaya. dapat putol kamay, putol dila.”

  26. Mrivera Mrivera

    “Everybody should follow the law,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

    anong law? kaLAWkohan ng mga nasa malakanyang?

    tandang edong, hindi ka lang gunggong, nagkekengkoy ka pa!

    hind bagay sa mukha mo! nakakahiya ka na noon pang umpisa kang maging parang inodorong tagasalo ng tae ni gloria at asawang baboy, alam mo ba ‘yon?

    mas mabuti pa nga sa iyo ang bagoong balayan, nakakagutom at nakakapaglaway ang amoy. ikaw, para kang taeng langaw lamang ang gustong makaamoy!

    tumatanda ka, naiiwan mo ang iyong bait.

  27. Mrivera Mrivera

    “There is overwhelming evidence that media refused to leave the crime scene (following forced entry by Trillanes and company on Manila Penn despite initial resistance by Hotel security people).”

    mga bulol pala sila, eh.

    kaya ‘andoon ang mga reporters, mamamahayag, tagapagbalita, newscaster at correspondents ay dahil ‘andoon ang tunay na balita!

    ano’ng gusto nila, si gloria na lamang ang pagkulumpunan ng mga reporters?

    mga sipsep!

  28. Alex Alex

    Hoy MRivera…ano ka ba…law should be law..and no one is above on it, kahit mga medya man, kahit si Gloria pa yun..

    Lagay mo yung sarili mo na ikaw ang nasa gobyerno..ano sa palagay mo gawin mo? hwag naman tayo maging mapasarili..intindihin nyo naman, mayroon tayong batas na dapat sundin…kaya nag ka ganito tayo..hindi tayo marunong umintindi…

  29. Alex Alex

    Mga tao dito mapasarili…lagay nyo sarili nyo…kung kayo ang gobyerno…at mayroong mga taong katulad nila trillanes at etc..ano gawin nyo?

    Think of it…

  30. Alex,

    Allow me to answer your question: “kung kayo ang gobyerno…at mayroong mga taong katulad nila trillanes at etc..ano gawin nyo?”

    Kung ako ay nasa gobyerno, malamang hindi mangyayari ang nangyari ang Trillanes phenomenon dahil hindi ako mangungurakot, hindi ako, magnanakaw at hindi ako magsisinungaling sa mga nangyayaring kabulastugan sa paligid ko.

    Ngayon, sabihin na natin na si Trillanes ay tulisan: kung ganoon, at ako ay nasa gobyerno at ako ay matinong tao at hindi gaya ni Gloria at ng kanyang mga alipores, iri-rekomenda ko na dapat hulihin at tapunan ng kaso si Trillanes. So, tama ka.

    Ngayon kung si Trillanes ay tama sa kanyang mga sinasabi dahil alam ng taong bayan na ang alagad ng gobyerno na pinamumunuan ni Gloria (kasama na ang kanyang pamilya) ay mga tulisan dahil sila ay manloloko, mang aabuso, magnanakaw, mga sinungaling at iba pa, tama lang na mag rebelde ang taong matino.

    Ang naging kasalanan ni Trillanes (kung kasalanan man iyong ginawa niya) ay hindi siya nagtagumpay. Kung ako si Trillanes ay maghihintay ako ng konting panahon upang maipon ko ang lahat ng kailangan, ex: tao, armas at lakas ng loob upang ibagsak si Gloria at ang kanyang gobyerno at putulin ang kanilang mga buhay.

    Suwerte na lang si Gloria at kaunti lang ang mga napakatapang na tao na katulad ni Trillanes at ni Lim dahil karamihan ng tao sa Pilipinas ay mga duwag (siguro dahil sa karamihan sa matapang na Pinoy, kaunti na lang na matapang ang natira sa Filipina — ang karamihan ay nag OFW na!)

    Inshallah! Allahu Akbar!

  31. Frustrated_OFW Frustrated_OFW

    Alex

    Ang hina mo talagang umintindi. Yes, we have laws and no one is above it even Gloria. Ano ba sa tingin mo sinusunod ba ni Gloria ang batas? Yung mga nakapaligid sa kanila, sumusunod ba? Ang gusto mo yata yun lang ordinariong tao ang susunod. Tanong mo anong gagawin ng tao kung may mga Trillanes. Ang sagot ko sana mas madami pang Trillanes na lumabas. Hindi katulad ng ilan diyan na bulag at bingi sa mga nangyayaring pang-aabuso ng gobyerno. Open your eyes, my dear Alex, so you can see the reality of what’s going.

  32. Alex Alex

    AdeBrux and Frustrated_OFW , sa palagay nyo ang presidente ba ang may control sa bansa natin? kahit sinong presidente ang epalit natin kay Gloria..wala pa ring mangyari sa atin..dahil ang gobyerno ay tayo..mga tao…

    Kaya kung hindi tayo magpalit ng ugali..ganoon pa rin ang bansa natin..katulad nyo…lahat sinisi na lang ang presidente..ang gobyerno…

    Sa Panahon ni Marcos, reklamo, sa panahon ni Ramos, reklamo pa rin, sa panahon ni Cory, reklamo at sa panahon ni Erap..reklamo… at ngayon naman..

    sa palagay nyo..sino ang magandang presidente? ikaw ba? hahah…lahat ng tao dito ganyan mag isip..kaya wala tayong patutunguhan..

    Ano bakayo? hindi kayo makapag intindi noon.. Frustrated OFW my dear…open your heart not your eyes and learn deeper on our situation..

    Changes begin with ourself…

  33. Mrivera Mrivera

    “kaya nag ka ganito tayo..hindi tayo marunong umintindi”

    yes. oo. aiwa. si.

    tama ka. hindi marunong umintindi sa karaingan ng mga nagdarahop ang katulad ninyong bulag o nagbubulagbulagan sa lahat ng kawalanghiyaan ni gloria.

    kung hindi si gloria ang nagpapatakbo ng gobyerno niya, sino?

    tayo ang gobyerno? NOON ‘yon. noong hindi pa inaagaw ni gloria ang kapangyarihan.

    kaibigan, huwag mong ipikit ang iyong mga mata sa katotohanan. nagdudumilat ang LAHAT ng pag-abuso at pambabastos nina gloria at mga alipores niya sa ating saligang batas, ang panunuhol sa sino mang gusto niyang maging kakampi at tagapagtanggol, ang hayagang pagbebenta sa ating soberenya at pagbalewala sa bawat sangay ng pamahalaan. talo pa natin ang nasa anarkiya.

    saan ka ba nakakita ng pamahalaang ang lahat ay iniaasa sa UTANG? saan ka nakakita ng pangulo (daw) ng bansa na naghihirap na ang sambayanan ay kung saan saang lupalop pumupunta at nagbibitbit pa ng mga alalay na pinakikimkiman ng milyon milyong panggastos habang ang mga walang makain sa ating bansa ay nakikipag-agawan sa aso’t pusa sa pagbubungkal ng makakain sa basurahan? saan?

    di ba’t sa pilipinas lamang?

  34. Mrivera Mrivera

    “Hoy MRivera…ano ka ba…law should be law..and no one is above on it, kahit mga medya man, kahit si Gloria pa yun..”

    hoy din, alex!

    sino me sabi sa ‘yong no wan is abab da lo in glorya’s administreysiyon? is it nat klir to yu dat glorya hes bin trasing da lo? iben da konstityusiyon?

    may pren, yu ar so depensib op glorya. way? is it bikos yu ar blaynded bay her tsarm? or yu ar aksepting her as yur gardiyan endyel en gud prubayder?

    ar yu klowsing yur ays on da kondisyon op da istarbing pur?

    du yu heb no relatibs hu ar gowing hanggri ebridey?

  35. Mrivera Mrivera

    en bipor yu tel as to tseynds awarselbs, tel dat tu glorya pers en yu olso tseynds yurselp!

    okoy? este okey?

  36. Mrivera Mrivera

    and for your information, alex, those reporters who refused to leave the premises of manila penn knew very well that if they will let the magdalos alone inside the hotel, they would be massacred by the men of crazy barias and make it appear that they fought it out with the goons of the state.

    sa mga pulis ni gloria, nagtitiwala ka pa?

    mga utak kotong at salbeyds ang mga ‘yan!

  37. Alex Alex

    Mga pare…may panahon tayo mag husga ng may kapanyarihan sa gobyerno..at yun sa election…hintayin nyo yun..at wag mag madali…dyan natin ipakita ang tunay natin pag ka pilipino…

    tayo pa rin ang gobyerno mrivera..kung hindi mo alam, kawawa kanaman…

  38. Frustrated_OFW Frustrated_OFW

    Oo, Alex, ang presidente ang dapat sisihin dahil siya ang namumuno sa government at dahil diyan siya ang may control sa lahat ng nangyayari sa government. I’ve opened my heart and eyes kaya nga nakikita ko ang totoong nangyayari sa atin. Ano pang pagbabago sa sarili ang gusto mo? Sigurado ako na majority sa mga Filipinos ay law abiding citizens pero kung ang namumuno ay non-law abiding citizen wala ding mangyayari. We, the people elect a president expecting him/her to lead us in the proper way. But what is happening, your so called president is the one leading us to misery and hopelessness. At kung may susunod na election at tatakbo ulit si Gloria, sigurado ako, Alex, na iboboto mo siya, right. God help us all.

  39. Mrivera Mrivera

    alex,

    sabihin mo nga sa takbo ng mga pangyayari ngayon, saan nanggagaling at ano ang nagpapatupad ng batas batas ni gloria? hindi ba’t sa dulo ng baril ng kanyang mga berdugo?

    hindi mo ba natatanto kung paano balikuin ni gloria ang batas? nasaan ang pagkakapantay pantay ng tao sa lipunan? alin ba ang mas lamang at nakararami, ang gutom o ang bundat? hindi ba’t sa bawat isang bundat na alipores ni gloria ay libo ang katumbas na nagkakalkal ng makakain sa basurahan dahil walang hanapbuhay at pagkukunan ng pantawid gutom?

    salamat naman kung umaasa kang magkakaroon ng eleksiyon sa katapusan (dapat) ng terminong ninakaw at ipinandaya ni gloria.

    salamat na rin sa pagbibigay mo sa amin ng isang panlilinlang na pag-asang katulad ng ginagawa ni gloria.

  40. Mrivera Mrivera

    “……ano ang nagpapatupad ng batas ni gloria?”

  41. Alex Alex

    at sino ang karapatdapat maging presidente? …kayo? .. subukan nyo maging presidente at dyan malaman nyo..kung ang presidente ba ang dapat palitan…pag andoon na kayo…malaman nyo rin..at ma intindihan..

  42. Brownberry Brownberry

    Giant media networks like ABS-CBN are crying foul over the treatment the reporters and journalists received from Malacanang and the PNP?AFP during that incident at Manila Pen. They now realize that it was much better during Edsa One and Two when they went to destroy two duly elected leaders (Marcos and Estrada) without much hindrance. Kaya itong ginawa sa kanila ng mga berdugo ni GMA, hindi na sila sanay. Mas maluwag sa media noon sina Marcos at Estrada. Kung naging kasing higpit sila ni GMA, wala sigurong nangyaring Edsa Uno at Dos. To my mind, ABS-CBN and some media that were sympathetic to the Magdalo group and opposition could be silent conspirators. For one thing, the Lopezes are not in the best of term with Malacanang these days. Bakit nauna pa ang mga ABS-CBN TV crew sa Manila Pen? Ces Drilon, Pinky Webb, Ricky Carandang are no fans of Malacanang. Other well-known Kapamilya media personnel like Pia Hontiversos have also been critical of Malacanang. Even Korina Sanchez whose hubby Sen. Mar Roxas is a presidential candidate in 2010. Kaya sa palagay ko, lihim na kasabwat ang ABS-CBN. It’s funny to think that ABS contributed largely to Estrada’s ouster. If indeed they together with rival GMA-7 are for the truth; and that they are willing to risk their lives to cover any event for the public, why were they absent during that Edsa Tres when the masses numbering close to a million went out to the streets to oust Gloria? The only media network that covered the Edsa Tres was Net-25 and DZEC. Dahil ba noon ba ay kakampi pa ng ABS-CBN at GMA-7 si Gloria?

  43. J. Cruz J. Cruz

    Brownberry: It happens all the time. The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing specially during a stormy period!

    Every aspect is the convergence of parts and parcels to make it whole!

  44. Brownberry Brownberry

    I agree, J. Cruz. The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing…but the head knows.

  45. J. Cruz J. Cruz

    Brownberry: To aim for the head…. we should start practicing with the other body parts. Maybe the mole?

    Tell me something…. why do so few so blinded by the truth, so jaded by greed and knowingly participated in defrauding the Filipino people?

    Is there an end to all this madness?

  46. Mrivera Mrivera

    o, sige, alex.

    para huwag ka nang manggalaite sa galit, ikaw na lamang ang pumalit kay gloria at gawin mong mas masahol pa sa ginawa niya para malaman mo kung gaano kasarap ang magtampisaw sa bunga ng kawalanghiyaan!

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