Police, media to share info on crime groups

The police and journalists have agreed to share information on crime syndicates, including list of identified hitmen, during discussions on ways to protect and secure members of the media against threats on their profession.

The dialogue was held the other day following the MPD’s activation of a task force which intends to put to stop the unabated killings of media practitioners in many parts of the country.

"Task Force Media" aims to resolve the specter of threats and killings which hounded the media and "undermines the credibility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in providing protection to the citizenry," according to a memorandum issued by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol.

Querols’ memorandum instructed all five police district directors in Metro Manila to form a task force which shall coordinate with their respective media personnel covering their beats to find out who among them are receiving death threats.

Those found as potential targets of liquidation shall be provided with special police security arrangement, the memorandum further instructed.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong has tasked Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, to head the task force and initiate a dialogue with members of the Manila Police District Press Corps (MPDPC) to work out a program that will provide ample protection and security to the media.

Part of the security protection is to assist qualified MPDPC members in securing licenses for their firearms and the issuance of permit to carry outside their residence.

MPDPC president Francis Naguit also discussed the mechanics of balanced reporting as a way of eliminating the usual motive of assassins.

Also present at the discussion were MPD’s chief of staff Senior Superintendent Gorgonio Rosero and District Headquarters Support Unit chief Superintendent Angelito Santamina.

Rosero suggested that the MPDPC members undergo training in self defense, while Santamina vowed to secure media members while inside the headquarters.

The Task Force Media shall also intensify its drive against loose firearms as well as persons who possess guns with no proper permit.

The spate of killings of media practitioners in the country has ranked the Philippines as the second most dangerous place for journalists after Iraq by Amnesty International.