US envoy's escorts accused of manhandling journalists

Journalists covering an event that had US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. as guest on Wednesday complained of harassment from his Filipino escorts. One reporter, Erel Cabatbat of TV5, said the security escorts treated them “as if we are terrorists who are out to kill the ambassador." Most of the journalists were members of the Defense Press Corps (DPC) based in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The journalists said the escorts, all wearing blue Barong Tagalog, shoved the cameramen despite the fact that Thomas, while attending the event at the AFP Medical Center, had already agreed to be interviewed. Thomas was at the military hospital to hand over a donation from the US government. One cameraman was hit on the throat while another was violently pushed during the commotion. One female reporter said one of the escorts touched her chest. Another said she was screamed at for allegedly being late. When a male television reporter cursed, Thomas quipped, “No profanity," and then boarded his vehicle. Cabatbat and Dona Pazzibugan of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said there was no reason for the security escorts to manhandle them because they were invited to cover the event. They said they were at the venue as early as 7:45 a.m. “They had no reason to manhandle us because we are not terrorists, NPA (New People’s Army) or anti-US activists," said Pazzibugan, who was also president of DPC. Cabatbat said the reporters waited respectfully for the activity to finish before asking permission for the interview. Thomas was with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin during the inauguration of the Polarity and Molecular Laboratory, which was renovated under the US Biosecurity Engagement Program and Armed Forces Health Surveillance. Security was tight at the military hospital even before the arrival of Thomas. Visitors were made to take a longer route just to avoid passing in front of the hospital where soldiers were providing Thomas with arrival honors. Lt. Cmdr. Jerome Rommel Ochoco, spokesman of the AFP Medical Center, meanwhile apologized to the media for the ruckus. “We are asking for apology on behalf of our officers and command," said Ochoco, who came to meet defense reporters in Camp Aguinaldo. Ochoco, who arrived aboard an ambulance, is confined at the AFP Medical Center for a kidney ailment. He said he asked permission from his doctors to go out of the hospital just to dialogue with the media about the incident. He said they would exert efforts to prevent similar incidents. - KBK, GMA News