These reported visits by Philippine National Police (PNP) on journalists' homes can't help but remind Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman of the previous administration's "Operation Tokhang".
"Crusading journalists need police protection from threats and harm, not police intrusion into their privacy," Lagman said in a statement Monday, Oct. 17.
The opposition lawmaker was referring to the reported visit of a plainclothes cop at the home of broadcast journalist JP Soriano.
"The recent unannounced visits of police officers, mostly in plainclothes, to the homes and studios of selected broadcasters is reminiscent of the intrusive and illicit 'Operation Tokhang' on drug suspects," Lagman said.
Depending on which side of the political fence you ask, Tokhang is either a great innovation for peace and order, or a bloody initiative by the previous Duterte administration that trampled on human rights.
"These veiled harassments must be stopped as they constitute attempts at prior restraint on the freedom of expression," Lagman further said of the home visits, which has also been reportedly experienced by some radio reporters.
The home visits betray the fact that law enforcers have access to the journalists' personal details.
The visits-slash-welfare checks were launched by the PNP at the heels of the ambush-slay of hard-hitting radio commentator Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid.