Sen. Gatchalian weighs in on cops visiting journalists' homes
Coordination is important when it comes to police officers visiting the homes of media practitioners, says Senator Win Gatchalian.
this was his reaction after GMA TV journalist JP Soriano bared on Twitter that a plainclothes police officer had visited his private residence on Saturday, Oct. 15.
“Importante, coordination dyan...Mabait naman yung policeman pero kung plainclothes, iba yung pakiramdam mo di mo alam kung ano to...Sino man kahit journalist, negosyante, di magiging komportable sayo yan (Coordination is important...While the policeman was amicable, because he was in plainclothes and not in uniform, it’s a different feeling),” Gatchalian said during a DZBB interview on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Gatchalian said that while the objective may have been noble, it lacked coordination with media organizations.
“Maganda naman ang layunin ng ating kapulisan dahil nga dito sa nangyari. Gusto nila ay makakuha pa ng impormasyon, malaman kung sino man ay may banta, at ma-trace kung sino man ang gumagawa nito (The objective was noble because of what happened. They want to get information, learn who has been facing threats, and trace whoever may be responsible),” he continued.
“Importante dito bago maglunsad ng ganito, mag-coordinate sa mga journalism organizations natin. Organized ito eh, maraming grupo at pwede silang magpatawag ng coordination or consultative meeting para hindi magkaroon ng ganito (What’s important is that before they initiate something like this, they coordinate with journalism organizations. These are organized. There are many groups and they can call for a coordination or consultative meeting so that this won’t happen),” Gatchalian said.
The Senator highlighted two red flags about the incident: that the visiting officer had not been in uniform and that the Philippine National Police (PNP) knew about the address of the reporter’s private residence.
“Mabuti kung naka-uniform nandun yung pangalan medyo kampante ka na official yung kanyang bisita. Kahit ako matatakot rin ako (He should have been in uniform, his name visible, to make it clear that its an official visit. Even me, I would be scared),” he said.
When asked if the matter of the reporter’s private address would be brought up with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) during its budget hearing with the Senate, he said this:
“Di rin klaro sakin kung bakit may address ang ating mga kasamahan, klaruhin kung paano yan nakuha (It’s not clear to me how they got his address, they need to explain how they got it).”
Meanwhile, on Oct. 15, The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) directed all Metro Manila police commanders to stop their officers from visiting the private residences of media practitioners.
The move to visit media practitioners' private residences was said to have been made in order to check on their security following the killing of veteran journalist Percy Lapid.