Chief of Police Ambushes Radio Station, Detains Journalist

Chief of Police Ambushes Radio Station and Illegally Detains Journalist On WPFD

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists, Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the actions of Dipolog City Chief of Police, Superintendent Reynaldo Maclang, after he forced his way into blocktime commentator Rodolfo Tanquis’s radio show on Friday morning and had him arrested without warrant, while he was live on air.

According to reports, the Chief of Police had taken offence at criticisms made by Tanquis on his radio show about the high number of unsolved killings in the Dipolong city. 

On May 3rd, while Tanquis was hosting his 6-7 am radio program, Isyu Karon, Superintendent Maclang, accompanied by several other men, forced their way into the announcer’s booth, locked and blocked the door, preventing radio technicians from entering to assist Tanquis.  

Maclang then took out his .45 calibre pistol and slammed it on the radio announcer’s table, declaring that he was filing a libel case against Tanquis. Maclang then “arrested” Tanquis, without warrant, and ordered the police to detain him at the Dipolog City jail while Maclang filed libel charges. Tanquis was only released the next day after he was able to post a P 10,000 bail bond.

Adding to these shocking actions, the Western Mindanao police director, Chief Superintendent Juanito Vano Jr., attempted to cover up Maclang’s actions.

In a statement, the NUJP demanded that PNP Director General Alan Purisima and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas III immediately investigate and sanction Maclang and Vano who have proven to be a blot on the service. “For Maclang to draw his weapon and slam it down in front of Tanquis is a clear abuse of authority and as grave a threat as anyone, especially a person in authority, can make against a person,” the statement read. “As for Vano, his brazen attempt at covering up for Maclang shows why the impunity with which extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations are committed persists and why the murders of journalists, activists, lawyers, religious, indigenous people and others remain.” 

Journalists in the Philippines consistently face threats, intimidation and violence.  This incident, which happened on World Press Freedom Day, highlights the grave culture of impunity in which journalists in the Philippines are forced to operate and the government continues to allow. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists impunity index the Philippines ranks 3rd – with only Iraq and Somalia having worse records for bringing justice to the killers of journalists.

The IFJ joins the NUJP in demanding that the government of the Philippines take immediate and decisive action against Superintendent Maclang and Chief Superintendent Vano. 

“While the current culture of impunity thrives, those in power will continue to feel safe in the knowledge that nothing will prevent them from acting to silence journalists” said Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia Pacific Director.  “If the government is serious in its guarantee to address impunity, they should use this case to set a new precedent, one that demonstrates their commitment to press freedom and positive obligations under international law”.

ENDS

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