Razon apologizes to media members accosted but maintains it was necessary

By Ronron
November 30, 2007

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. apologized to the media who were accosted at the Manila Peninsula Hotel but maintained that it necessary as part of police operations.

Razon explained the operatives on the ground had to handcuff the 51 members of the media, one of whom was from the Daily Manila Shimbun, during the clearing operations because there were reports that some Magdalo members disguised themselves as mediamen.

“We are asking for apology if we hurt your sensibilities… But we hoped you understand our job as much as we understand yours,” Razon told a news conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday.

He said handcuffing the media men was necessary to ensure that those who are in disguise could not create violence like grabbing the guns of the police operatives.

The accosted media personalities were boarded buses and taken to the National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Bicutan, Taguig City on Thursday evening. All 51 were released around 10:30 pm.

“They just showed their ID’s so when we confirmed that they are legitimate media members, they were set free,” Razon said.

Razon pointed out that the accosted media personalities were actually those who were inside the hotel and apparently preventing the policemen from effecting the arrest of the Magdalo soldiers, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and other civilian sympathizers.

Contrary to his assurance late Thursday night that the police will no longer file criminal cases against the media members for obstruction of justice, Razon threatened yesterday to doing such if they will be slapped with charges from the media.

“We don’t have an intention to file charges against the media. But if we will be charged as we have heard on the news, then we can also charge you for obstruction of justice,” he said.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation admitted planning to sue the police for holding in its custody some of its newsmen.

“We understand that you were just doing your job. But why can’t you understand our purpose when we wanted the hotel to be cleared of media men,” Razon said.

Razon said he had already directed the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Group and the chief Public Information Officer to coordinate a dialogue meeting between and among the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PNP and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas to avoid a repeat of the same problem./DMS