Life on the Beat: Camp Crame
Life on the Beat – What Journalism Students Saw
Camp Crame:
Still (mostly) a man’s world
By Annemylin B. Perez
Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is located in Quezon City. Right across is Camp Aguinaldo, the national headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At the PNP’s Public Information Office are Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao and his staff.
The PNP Press Corps Office is located at the first floor, near the main entrance of the building. The office is divided into two parts. The first division is the press conference room which also has two telephone booths that are used by reporters for reporting stories and making personal calls.
The second division is the working room of the press. It is air-conditioned and furnished with 13 computers and cubicles, a fax machine, television set, desks for reporters who bring their own laptops, a dining area, a sala set, two comfort rooms, and a kitchen. Internet connection is accessible via internet card.
A day’s work
Camp Crame beat reporters are mostly male. Usually wearing casual or semi-formal attire, they do not have fixed hours but are usually out before 5 p.m. Radio reporters are often the early birds. Print people are often the busiest. They usually fill the room before lunchtime.
On a slow day after lunch, some reporters snooze on the sofa. So, too, do cameramen and drivers of TV reporters who, if not sleeping, play cards.
Senior Supt. Pagdilao and National Capital Region Police Office Chief Vidal Querol usually visit the office and talk to the reporters. There is food which everyone eats in the office.
Everyday, news clippings are made available to reporters for easy reference. Six to eight press releases are issued a day. A daily journal is also kept containing reports of crimes, usually incidents outside Metro Manila.
A number of reporters base their reports on press releases and give these their own angles. Some reporters do not usually rely on news releases especially if the issue is not important. Some reporters rely on press conferences, especially if they want to give updates on their stories. Most of the reporters share ideas before doing the news.
Press releases usually have contact numbers of the writer of the story so reporters can clarify the issue.
Doing the job
One time, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was inspecting a 40-ft. container van. Some reporters came late and asked for a replay of the “scene.”
In their stories, reporters usually cite just one source. Because of this, some articles are often one-sided. Stories based on press conferences would have only one person being quoted.
On Tuesdays, a forum is held at the multi-purpose hall. High officials of PNP are usually the guest speakers and food is properly distributed to members of media. Five to six press conferences are held each week at Camp Crame.
Most press conferences don’t start on time. The very important person or guest speakers are always late. The reporters are very aggressive in asking questions and they see to it that every question is answered clearly.
After the press conference, some reporters follow the guest speakers to ask more questions. Press releases are distributed to reporters, a useful practice especially for those who missed the conference.