State agents harass media workers who refused to sign as witnesses in drug op

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Reporters covering the aftermath of a police drug raid in Pasay City, Metro Manila on March 16 were harassed by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) when the media refused to sign on as witnesses on the inventory form. 

Personnel of the NBI’s Task Force on Anti-Illegal Drugs asked the media members on the scene to sign on as witnesses to the forms documenting the inventory of drugs and other materials on the scene. But because reporters arrived at the scene after the raid with the prescribed inventory already ongoing, media said they could not attest to the an inventory form of items seized at the raid. 

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that a representative of the media may serve as witness to the actual operation and to the inventory of seized items conducted after. 

Media organizations have protested their inclusion as possible witnesses on such a document. It makes reporters a participant in the raid and implies compliance with its conduct. Such a condition compromises their own independent judgment of the scene and capacity to form their own judgment. 

In this case however, the members had another legitimate reason: they were not there at the time of the raid and had arrived later, with the inventory in process. They could no longer say what was really initially found on the scene. 

The refusal angered the NBI agents who countered with insults and homophobic slurs. 

The NBI, in a March 16 statement, apologized for the incident and committed to “maintaining a fair and professional relationship” with the media. 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla addressed members of the media at a March 17 press conference, noting that they “have no duty to testify if you [media workers] were really not part of it [drug operation].” The Justice Department also announced that they will investigate the matter.  

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) released a statement welcoming the NBI’s apology on March 17. NUJP maintained that while policy requires the presence of witnesses at such operations, “this should not be taken to mean that law enforcement personnel have the authority to force members of the media to act as witnesses and sign inventories.”  

The NUJP in 2018 led a campaign “Sign against the sign,” with the support of other organizations including CMFR. This called for an amendment in the legislation that removes media members from the list of witnesses, citing safety concerns, among other issues.