Police officer denies access to broadcaster
CMFR/PHILIPPINES – An intelligence officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) allegedly prevented a radio broadcaster in Quezon province last 05 January 2011 from covering a story following the arrest of alleged members of the New People’s Army. Quezon is approximately 100 kilometers from Manila.
Senior Supt. Ramon Balauag allegedly pushed dzMM’s Johnny Glorioso out of his office at the PNP provincial headquarters (Camp Nakar) in Quezon. Glorioso was at Camp Nakar to do a follow up story on the arrest of alleged members of the NPA Southern Command. The NPA is the guerilla army of the Communist Party of the Philippines
In a phone interview with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Glorioso said he was on his way to interview Balauag about the identity of the government employee caught with the NPA commander. At Balauag’s office, he saw the suspect, while handcuffed and blindfolded, being held in one of the rooms with two policemen guarding him.
Glorioso entered the office to go to Balauag’s room, but Balauag held him by the shoulders and led him outside. The reporter said that he felt extreme pain on his left shoulder, which has been “frozen” due to a stroke he had suffered earlier.
When they reached the the lobby, Glorioso asked the police officer to release him. He also asked why the alleged NPA rebel was blindfolded. Balauag answered that it was part of their “standard operating procedure.” The police officer then called security and told them not to let any reporter/journalist into the office.
Glorioso reported the maltreatment to the PNP Quezon provincial director and media organizations.
On 10 January 2011, Region VI Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao relieved Balauag from his current post and was transferred to the regional police office in Canlubang, Laguna while they looked into the harassment complaint.
In the evening of 10 January 2011, the Quezon provincial police chief Sr. Supt. Ericson Velazquez initiated a meeting between Balauag and Glorioso. Glorioso told CMFR that Balauag apologized to him during the meeting. Balauag allegedly said he had no intention of hurting Glorioso, and was just tired.
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