Altermidya Network rejected on July 23 a police claim that journalists were not targeted during the dispersal of an anti-US protest in Pasay City.
The network said footage from the July 22 protest contradicted Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who claimed officers had difficulty distinguishing journalists from demonstrators.
“Unfortunately for the PNP, videos of the police’s attempt to arrest photojournalists Bullit Marquez and Renato Dilan contradict this effort at a cover-up,” Altermidya said in a July 23 statement.
“The media workers’ cameras clearly identified them as journalists covering the event,” it added.
Police briefly detained Bulatlat correspondent Jian Sanz and attempted to arrest Marquez and Dilan as they covered the dispersal, according to a report by Kodao Productions.
Marquez’s camera was reportedly damaged during the scuffle. Police later described the attempted arrests as an “honest mistake.”
The protest, led by Bagong Alyansa Makabayan and allied organizations, opposed the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the proposed Pax Silica initiative in the Philippines.
The protesters planned to march from the Aliw Theater to the Philippine International Convention Center, where the country was hosting Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings. Police blocked the march and dispersed the demonstrators.
Kodao reported that officers manhandled activists and media workers during the confrontation.
Altermidya said police moved against Marquez and Dilan after they tried to photograph the attempted arrest of Sandugo leader Amirah Lidasan.
“Police efforts to prevent photos being taken of Bangsamoro leader Amirah Lidasan’s attempted arrest triggered the apprehension of Marquez and Dilan,” the network said.
“No spin, even by the country’s top cop, could undermine the fact,” it added.
The network also cited Sanz’s detention in disputing Nartatez’s claim that no journalist had been targeted.
Sanz rejected the police assertion that officers had “rescued” her after she fell and was trampled during the commotion.
“Firstly, three or four of you tried to arrest me…You are such liars, and the worst!” Sanz was quoted as saying.
Altermidya condemned the police action and called for an independent investigation and the filing of appropriate charges against those responsible.
Lidasan was injured during the police attempt to arrest her. She accused officers of singling her out because she is Muslim and was wearing a hijab.
“I know I was targeted because I am a Muslim and wearing a hijab. What they did is discrimination,” Lidasan said.
In a separate statement, the National Police Commission said it would investigate the reported harassment of photojournalists and hold accountable any police personnel found to have violated the law, PNP rules, or operational procedures.
“Maintaining peace and order and protecting press freedom are not competing duties. Our police officers are expected to do both,” Commissioner Rafael Calinisan said.
