CV journos question no spot report order

CEBU - The leadership of the police beat reporters in Cebu asked the police hierarchy to reconsider their decision of disallowing journalists from looking into the spot reports.

Veteran broadcast and print journalist Arnold Bustamante, Defense PNP Press Corps (Depp) president, said the officials have nothing to worry about in releasing any information through spot reports or press releases, as journalists exercise due diligence and report professionally.

“We are open to any communication from the police officials to resolve the matter as soon as possible purposely not to curtail what the public deserves to know,” he said.

The police in Central Visayas received yesterday the memorandum telling them not to show spot reports to the media. The order was sent via text message from Camp Crame. The memorandum was not publicized as it was labeled “confidential.”

The order was issued just as the Cebu media is celebrating the Broadcasters Month and about to mark the annual Press Freedom Week, which will start this Sunday, Sept. 17, with a parade.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s relationship is at odds with some members of the mainstream media, which report the alleged extra-judicial killings.

For his part, Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists president Elias Baquero criticized the move, saying it is an attack on the freedom of the press.

“It is the duty of the media reporters, as members of the fourth estate, to get reports (like spot reports) from the PNP,” he said. “If the PNP officer/s will not give the copy of a spot report... then he cannot prevent the public from speculating that he is hiding something.”

Police Regional Office 7 Director Jose Mario Espino said the spot reports should not be freely given to reporters.