MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Saturday condemned the Philippine Army for attempting to bar a reporter from covering a protest of displaced Marawi residents.
In a statement, the NUJP said an officer of the 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army attempted to evict Kath Cortez, a reporter and NUJP member, while covering a rally of Marawi evacuees seeking to return to their homes in the war-torn city.
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The unidentified officer allegedly ordered the confiscation of documents and equipment of Davao Today and Kilab Multimedia reporter Cortez, upon seeing her ID. Davao Today and Kilab Multimedia are alternative news outfits.
"Uy, taga-Davao. Kumpiskahin ang ID! Kumpiskahin ang camera! Palabasin ‘yan ng Marawi! (Hey, she's from Davao! Confiscate her ID! Confiscate her camera! Get her out of Marawi!)" NUJP quoted the officer as saying.
Col. Romeo Brawner, the deputy commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, however, tried to justify the officer's action in a statement.
Brawner said the move was "influenced by the fact that leftist and non-Muslim organizations attempted to infiltrate the ranks of the legitimate Maranao internally displaced persons (IDPs) reportedly to agitate the peace-loving rallyists to become aggressive and even violent."
The NUJP said the officer's reaction after seeing Cortez's ID has nothing to do with the alleged "infiltration" mentioned by Brawner but with a deliberate effort to prevent the reporter from covering a public event.
The group said soldiers physically removed her from the protest area.
"That Brawner links this incident to his theory of infiltration is misguided at best and, worse, could actually endanger our colleagues by implying that security forces' suspicions are enough reason for them to suppress journalists from coverage and/or subject them to clearly unconstitutional acts like confiscation of their property and arbitrary eviction, which not even martial law justifies," the NUJP said.
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According to Martial Law General Order No. 1, "the constitutional rights of the Filipino people shall be respected and protected at all times."
The same order requests the media, however, "to exercise pridence in the performance of their duties so as not to compromise the security and safety of the Armed Forces and law enforcement personnel, and enable them to effectively discharge their duties and functions."
Brawner said that the Army is now investigating the incident and will remind all personnel in Marawi of the proper decorum during similar events.
This assurance was welcomed by the NUJP. – Rosette Adel