Palace, PNP: TV video not enough to pin down reporter
The government does not have enough evidence to back up allegations that a woman journalist had helped fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape after troops stormed the Peninsula Manila hotel in
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said the footage from RPN-9 television network showing Dana Batnag of Japanese news agency Jiji Press in a huddle with Faeldon was not enough to charge her in court.
“If that is the only evidence police have against her (Batnag), it is not sufficient,” he told The STAR in a telephone interview.
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Apostol said police investigators must also get a statement from the cameraman who took the footage.
“They (police investigators) should also get affidavits from other people that testify that that woman aided Faeldon in his escape,” he said.
“Their evidence must be strong and convincing.”
On the other hand, Apostol said police might be withholding other pieces of evidence that could bolster the case for other considerations to ensure that they would hold in court.
The filing of a criminal complaint is a long process aimed at making sure that evidence would constitute probable cause and be acceptable not only to the prosecutor but also to the judge, he added.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), of which Batnag is vice president, urged the police “to put up or shut up” over allegations that Batnag helped Faeldon escape.
FOCAP president Manny Mogato said until such time that charges are filed in court, they would not dignify the allegations against Batnag.
“Wala pa namang kaso (There is no case yet),” he said. “Tsismis pa lang lahat yan (It’s all rumor). We are reserving our official stand over this issue.”
The investigation on Batnag is a witch-hunt aimed at creating divisions within the media profession, according to the National Union of Journalists of the
Amid the allegations, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome assured journalists that the police are not engaged in a witch-hunt or intimidation of media.
“We will maintain a policy of utmost support and cooperation with media, especially in matters of general public interest. We have high respect for journalists and the institutions that they represent,” he said.
At Malacañang, Secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo urged the media to try to resolve their grievances in the proper forum.
“The front pages and the airwaves are not the places to resolve the issue of safely covering conflict situations, and any allegations of civilian misconduct during the Peninsula Manila uprising,” he said in a statement.
“Both sides should discuss guidelines to ensure public safety in media coverage of dangerous events. And let due process, not trial by publicity, be applied to any evidence and charges of unlawful acts during the uprising.”
Bartolome lamented the police action is often perceived by some members of the media as oppressive, particularly in situations when fellow journalists are involved.
“It is not for the PNP to pass judgment on the actions of concerned individuals,” he said.
“The purpose of the investigation is to gather facts and present these in court for their appreciation.”
Bartolome said while the allegation has raised concern within the ranks of Filipino journalists, it has not strained the relationship of media with the police.
“We are continuing to hold dialogue and consultations with the different media organizations to possibly come up with working arrangements to preclude similar situations in the future,” he said. — Paolo Romero, Jaime Laude
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