Police chief denies info request

CMFR/Philippines – A radio reporter complained that despite a Philippine National Police directive requiring police officers to respond to media requests for information, he was nevertheless denied information of public interest by a police official last 8 October 2012.

Edwin Sevidal, reporter of radio station dzMM told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) that he called Iriga City Police Chief Superintendent Rizalito Gapas to interview the latter because he had received information about an ambush incident in Iriga City in which two police officers were allegedly wounded.

Sevidal said he introduced himself and the radio station where he worked thrice to Gapas but the police chief said he didn’t know the reporter and would not entertain questions from him about the incident.

Sevidal told CMFR that he warned Gapas that he would report him to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters.  The police chief allegedly dared him to do so.

Sevidal said his fellow reporters did not try to call Gapas for information about the ambush incident upon learning of Gapas’ attitude. Sevidal added that the reporters talked to PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Generoso Cerbo about the incident. Sevidal said that Cerbo told the reporters that he would request an investigation on the incident and will ask Gapas to explain his behavior.

CMFR tried to call Gapas but failed.