Party-list lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc have filed House Resolution (HR) 484 in order to seek an inquiry in aid of legislation into the recent incident in which a cop visited the private residence of a media practitioner.
Last Saturday, Oct. 15, a police officer not in uniform visited the private residence of GMA broadcast journalist JP Soriano. According to the officer, this was done to check on the safety of Metro Manila journalists following the killing of Percy Lapid.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/04/pnp-creates-task-force-to-probe-into-killing-of-percy-lapid/
“There is a violation of the right to privacy of the journalists against unauthorized or illegal access to and disclosure and use of their personal information. Section 12 of Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 specified the conditions that should be met so that the personal information of an individual can be processed. Meanwhile, Section 16 stated that it is the right of the data subject to be informed whether personal pertaining to him or her shall be, are being or have been processed,” read the resolution of ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel.
“These so-called house visits, occurring in the context of other threats and attacks against journalists (17 in the past three months, per NUJP’s count), have the effect of increasing, without due cause and process, police presence near journalists and produce rife opportunities for surveillance on them, thereby casting a shadow of unease, if not fear, upon their vital duties in the delivery of information to the public,” it continued.
Many solons have raised concerns about the PNP visit, most notably regarding the police's apparent knowledge of Soriano’s private home address.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/17/ensure-safety-of-journalists-but-notthru-surprise-home-visits-chr/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/17/reminiscent-of-tokhang-lagman-says-of-pnp-home-visits-to-journalists/
“As the body comprised of representatives of the people, Congress should investigate and protect the Filipinos against the infringement of their right to privacy. The practice of profiling and granting illegal access to and disclosure and use of the personal information of the people to unauthorized individuals and entities poses fear and threat to their lives and safety,” the resolution concluded.
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has directed all Metro Manila police commanders to call off any operations to visit media practitioners in the area.