3 Leyte journalists ‘harassed’

MANILA, Philippines — Police allegedly fired their guns while journalists were covering a land dispute in Pastrana, Leyte on Friday, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

In an alert issued yesterday, the NUJP said a woman in plainclothes, later identified as a policewoman, stopped reporters Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa and Ted Tomas of San Juanico TV from interviewing farmers and asked them to leave.

A video uploaded by the NUJP showed the woman trying to grab the phone of one of the journalists while recording a video of the incident.

Gunshots were later heard.

The NUJP quoted Tomas as saying that policemen fired their guns.

The three journalists were unharmed.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) Eastern Visayas office to investigate, and if warranted, impose disciplinary action on personnel of the Pastrana police who reportedly threatened the journalists.

Paul Gutierrez, task force executive director, said the PNP should probe S/Sgt. Rhea Mae Baleos and the policemen she called for help to confront the journalists.

Gutierrez said what the policemen did against the journalists who were merely doing their job ”was totally uncalled for, unnecessary and amounted to abuse of authority and power.” — Alexis Romero, Artemio Dumlao