Philippines Journalists Harassed by Drug Enforcement Officer

Media Release: Philippines
March 7, 2011


Philippines Journalists Harassed by Drug Enforcement Officers

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned to learn of threats made against an ABS-CBN journalist by a drug enforcement officer in the south of the Philippines .

IFJ affiliate the Nation al Union of Journalists of the Philippines ( NUJ P) reported that ABS-CBN camera operator Randy Estrella was confronted by a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent on March 1 in Maitum town, Sarangani province, who told the journalist to stop filming.

“You just watch out, if that ever comes out,” said the agent, who refused to identify himself.

When the agent was confronted by TV Patrol Socsksargen reporter Jay Dayupay, the agent said: “You are always criticising our operations.”

The news team was in Maitum to follow up on a story of a drug raid carried out by a combined police and PDEA operation earlier in the day. Senior Superintendent Florendo Quidilla, Provincial Director of Sarangani Police, confirmed the operation and had told the team that they recovered PhP 60,000 to PhP 70,000 (roughly USD 1500) worth of shabu, a form of methamphetamine .

Dayupay said the agent's threats stemmed from previous ABS-CBN coverage which criticised the agency’s handling of an earlier drug raid, in which residents told the broadcaster they experienced rough treatment from agents.

Dayupay said they already lodged a complaint with the PDEA office in General Santos City but agency spokesperson Wilson Esparcia refused to identify the agent saying only that the incident was a result of a misunderstanding between the news team and the agents on the ground.

The incident has also been reported to the Investigation, Detection and Management Section of the General Santos City Police.

“It is alarming to see that officers will threaten journalists who are simply engaged in reporting the legitimate concerns of the community,” IFJ Asia -Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ calls for a full investigation to be conducted into the complaints lodged by the journalists, with a view to ensuring these threats are not repeated.”

ENDS

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