Radioman handcuffed, held at Marikina police station

MANILA, Philippines - A radio reporter was tackled to the ground, handcuffed and detained at a police station in Marikina City yesterday after having an argument with the station’s desk officer.

Edmar Estabillo, 40, of dzRH, was charged with assault upon an agent in authority, resisting arrest and simple disobedience before the Marikina City prosecutor’s office.

Estabillo filed countercharges of physical injuries against Senior Police Officer 1 Manuel Laison, who was ordered relieved and disarmed by Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Elmer Jamias pending the outcome of the EPD’s investigation of the incident.

Initial investigation showed Estabillo entered the police station in Barangay Sta. Elena just before 8 a.m. and asked to see the police blotter.

When Laison asked about his identity and why he wanted to see the blotter, Estabillo reportedly replied, “You don’t know me? I’m from the media.”

When Laison insisted on seeing his identification card, Estabillo allegedly resisted and pointed at the policeman’s face, triggering an argument.

Footage taken by a closed-circuit television camera at the station showed Laison dragging Estabillo to an office and tackling him to the ground in the lobby.

Laison then asked a police officer standing nearby to lend him his handcuffs, which he used on the reporter.