PNP chief denies taking over Tribune, appeals to media for ‘self-censorship’

Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao denied the PNP had taken over The Daily Tribune and asked the media yesterday to exercise self-censorship to avoid the fate of the daily newspaper that was raided on orders of the government.

"We would appeal to you to just report facts... The idea was for the media to perhaps do some self-restraint, do some censorship. We believe in the wisdom of the majority of our media friends," he said.

Speaking at the PNP Night of the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) chaired by STAR publisher Max V. Soliven at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati Tuesday night, Lomibao said The Tribune has been engaging in a concerted effort to overthrow the government, and claimed the newspaper has been propagating reports that "exacerbate" the instability of the government.

"Our judgment, this has to be taken over," he said, referring to the PNP raid and the continued presence of police at its Ermita, Manila offices.

However, Lomibao said the PNP "merely physically took over the newspaper," while allowing it to continue publishing news and criticism of the administration.

"This goes to show that they have not stopped their operations, and we never censured or we never reviewed the articles in the publication," he said.

Lomibao said there were instances in which disinformation had been peddled to the media.

"For example, a network reported that a general asked for withdrawal of support, appealed to the military to withdraw their support to the government. I don’t think this could add to stability," he said.

"If such a report could add to the (government’s) instability, and if they continue to propagate this disinformation, then we might continue to take over," he said.

Proclamation No. 1017 allows the military and police to stop media outlets from publishing or broadcasting material deemed as seditious, though the definition of such material is left to the government to determine.

The Tribune’s case is one of "national security," according to Lomibao, as it has repeatedly published reports and information that were contributing to destabilization efforts against the government.

Lomibao presented two copies of The Tribune dated Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 to illustrate his point.

However, he did not specify which specific articles contained statements that were considered seditious or tended to incite sedition.

In another forum yesterday, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao denied that police had taken over The Tribune or interfered with the newspaper’s editorial functions.

Speaking at Fernandina Forum at the AA Cebu BBQ in Greenhills, San Juan, Pagdilao said the PNP had not received any specific orders to take over the newspaper.

"We don’t have any orders for our people except to physically secure the area," he said.

"No, we are not interfering with the editorial work. The PNP has remained there at Tribune just to provide the physical security. We have not really taken over the operations of Tribune."

Pagdilao said the PNP will wait for investigators to evaluate the evidence against The Tribune staff and file the appropriate charges against them before the courts.

"We are securing the place," he said. "We are guarding the premises (in case it is) taken over by lawless elements who might use it to further propagate disinformation and further inflame people’s passion, to take up arms or participate in an effort to overthrow the government."

However, Tribune personnel who requested anonymity told reporters yesterday the police have already interfered with their work.

A policeman reads their e-mail messages, incoming fax messages, and reviews the articles being submitted to the editorial desk, the personnel added.

But Pagdilao maintained that the PNP presence at The Tribune offices was only to provide physical security.

"In times like these, lawless elements want to control the media and use it to propagate disinformation," he said.

"This is basically the objective of the PNP presence in the area. On the matter of directing the operations… we don’t possess the technical know-how to direct the operations of a newspaper company or a media outlet for that matter."

The Tribune retains the freedom to publish any article it wishes to print, and the newspaper continues to publish daily, he added.

Pagdilao said the PNP believes The Tribune had and continues to publish articles that could incite people to rise up against the government.

"In the judgment of the PNP, yes (there is evidence that it incites the public to sedition) and based also on the past publications of The Tribune," he said.

"It is actually a judgment call of a collective appreciation of the past articles, writings and publications of The Tribune. The latest attempted coup is indeed a product of the articles, insidious remarks, articles and writings of The Tribune.

"We don’t want any of the media outlets at this point of national emergency (to) be used to further inflame passions. We don’t want the national emergency situation to be further exacerbated by remarks of this nature."

Pagdilao also denied that police had been sent to ABS-CBN studios in Quezon City to take over the giant television network and interfere with its news-gathering functions. — With Sandy Araneta