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Media group wants PNP manual for journalists scrutinized


The National Press Club on Sunday called for a review of the Philippine National Police's safety handbook for journalists, saying the police did not consult media groups in crafting the manual. In a statement, NPC president Jerry Yap also said the NPC has announced last August that it will come out with a similar handbook later this year after consulting with journalist security experts. “While we welcome the publication of the handbook which we believe would be helpful for members of the media, propriety dictates that the end users and other stakeholders be consulted first... They (PNP) cannot force this one on us unless we find it highly reliable and acceptable," said Yap. NPC director and press freedom committee chair Joel Sy Egco, for his part, sent a letter to the PNP criticizing it for the alleged "unilateral publication" of the handbook and lack of consultation with media practitioners and groups. "While we welcome the initiative of the PNP in coming out with such, we wish to express apprehension over the fact that the publication of said handbook was done unilaterally and without prior consultation with any of the existing media organizations," said Ergo in a letter addressed to the PNP. "To avoid future criticisms that the publication of the handbook is merely a publicity stunt for the purpose of gaining brownie points for Camp Crame, we suggest that discussions be conducted with the end users and other stakeholders prior to its distribution," he added. For its part, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines gave the PNP-published manual a guarded welcome, with NUJP’s Rowena Paraan saying in a television interview on Friday that although she has not seen a copy, she also feels apprehensive that the handbook was written without consulting the media. PNP head Director General Raul Bacalzo had announced last week that the police has published the "Personal Security Measures for Media Practitioners" to help protect journalists and thwart threats stemming from the nature of their profession. (See: PNP publishes security handbook for journalists) The police's Task Force Usig has recorded 39 work-related fatal attacks against media personalities since 2001. The Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) under Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac has published an initial 2,000 copies of the 48-page handbook. These will be circulated to the police regional offices and local media clubs in the regions. “It is the desire of the PNP leadership to assist members of media by providing the means for journalist to be trained on security consciousness and threat awareness," Cacdac said. The 48-page handbook contains topics on:

  • threat detection and assessment;
  • basic guidance of personal security measures;
  • introductory instructions on counter-surveillance and evasive techniques;
  • home, workplace and travel security; and
  • handling threats.
—With Sophie M. Dedace/JV, GMANews.TV
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