The government’s media security task force condemned police aggression against veteran photojournalist Bullit Marquez after officers allegedly tried to arrest him while he documented a protest connected to ASEAN meetings on July 22.
The Philippine National Police later announced an investigation into the incident and said personnel found to have violated laws or police procedures would face administrative and legal action.
Marquez, a freelance photojournalist and former chief photographer of The Associated Press in the Philippines, was photographing police arresting a protester when officers blocked him and attempted to place him in handcuffs, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.
“PTFOMS strongly condemns this act of aggression against members of the press performing their professional duties by covering public demonstrations,” the task force said.
PTFOMS said Marquez and other journalists were covering a protest during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
According to Marquez’s account cited by the task force, police obstructed him from documenting an arrest. The attempted handcuffing resulted in damage to his camera, PTFOMS said.
The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines said Marquez was wearing press credentials when officers confronted him and Manila Times photo editor Rene Dilan.
“Police then moved to arrest Marquez, who was wearing press credentials, and were about to place him in handcuffs,” the group said. “His camera fell to the ground during the confrontation.”
The confrontation ended after other journalists protested the attempted arrest, the group said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said footage taken by journalists showed Marquez surrounded by three police officers, one of whom pushed him with a shield.
“Marquez’s camera fell to the ground as he resisted arrest,” the union said.
An officer also tried to confiscate Dilan’s camera while journalists at the scene shouted, “Photographer iyan! Photographer iyan!” according to the NUJP.
Environmental activist and Bulatlat contributor Jian Sianz was arrested while taking photographs near the protest venue, the union said. Sianz was briefly detained and later released after a paralegal team intervened.
In a statement signed by PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., the police said it had “taken note of reports” involving police personnel and journalists during operations at a public assembly held in Manila.
“The PNP is now conducting an impartial and thorough investigation to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement said. “We assure the public that the investigation will be guided by evidence, due process, and fairness.”
The police said officers deployed to public assemblies and major events had been instructed to exercise “maximum tolerance, professionalism, and restraint” and to uphold the rights of all people, including journalists.
“Should it be established that any personnel acted contrary to existing laws, PNP policies, or prescribed operational procedures, appropriate administrative and other legal actions will be taken,” the PNP said.
The police recognized the role of journalists in documenting matters of public interest but said its personnel were also responsible for maintaining order and enforcing the law.
PTFOMS said it was coordinating with Marquez and other media practitioners to consider possible action over the incident.
“We encourage any member of the press who feels their rights have been violated to come forward and file complaints,” the task force said.
The Photojournalists’ Center called on authorities to investigate the incident, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that law enforcement personnel protect journalists’ rights.
“Journalists and photojournalists perform a vital public service by documenting events of public interest,” the group said. “They must be allowed to carry out their work without threats, obstruction, or intimidation.”
The NUJP demanded an explanation and an apology from the PNP and called on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate.
The union said the incident showed that police personnel were violating their own rules on dealing with the media despite the PNP’s pledge to implement the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists.
“Unfortunately, today’s incident shows that elements of the PNP are themselves the perpetrators of attacks,” the NUJP said.
