Media groups condemn slapping of reporter

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Media Legal Aid, the legal arm of Cebu Citizens-Press Council, has condemned the alleged slapping of dyLA and Banat News reporter Leslie Caminade by a police official.

In a statement released by CCPC executive director Pachico Seares, CEMLA demanded a categorical admission and apology, in writing, from Sr. Insp. Vicente Velasquez not only to Caminade but to her news organizations and to the media community.

"The assault was inexcusable, even if taken in the context of his grief over the news of disaster," the statement reads.

Velasquez has already apologized to Caminade through the Defense-PNP Press Corps and was reprimanded by his commander officer Patrocinio Comendador.

But, CEMLA believes it was not enough. A written apology should be made not only to the reporter concerned but to the media community at large.

Cemla fears that the incident would set a precedent wherein a public official who physically assaults media practitioners gets away with his act of violence by simply giving an apology afterwards.

Caminade is not very keen to press charges against Velasquez.

"I am not interested to take any legal action against Velasquez. Though others may not understand me, I myself chose to just rest the case. I also chose to understand the situation Velasquez was and is in. I have already accepted Velasquez's apology for he admitted being sorry for what he has done to me," Caminade's letter to her managing editor John Rey Saavedra states.

The Media Alliance for Law Liberty and Truth (MALLET), an organization of reporters covering the justice beat, is also set to pass a resolution condemning Velasquez's act.

Velasquez reportedly slapped Caminade last Monday when the latter asked to go with him. Caminade was thinking that the police official will respond to an alarm because he was in a hurry. (THE FREEMAN)