Sinas: Mediamen need not worry

CEBU, Philippines — There are no threats on Cebu media practitioners coming from the police force, so said Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Head Debold Sinas.

Sinas, who was the keynote speaker during the 48th Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) quarterly en banc meeting, assured the media that the press people do not have anything to fear on them.

The CCPC meeting was in line with the celebration of 26th Cebu Press Freedom Week, which will close tomorrow.

Sinas’ assurance stemmed from the question of CCPC legal counsel and media veteran Ruphil Bañoc who said that they received reports that Cebu-based reporters were subjected to an investigation and that an anchorman even received threats.

"First, none, as of now. Naa daw lagi mahadlok nga media people sa pulis," he said.

Sinas clarified that the threats an anchorman in a Cebu-based radio station received were not from the police.

He said that they only conducted an investigation on some Cebu-based reporters after they found out during their probe on the killing of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 agent Baby 'Earl' Rallos that some reporters signed the seizure order in some illegal drugs operations even if they were not around.

"Naa incident kay kanang mag-raid sa drugs it is part of the requirements ang presence sa media...diri sa atoa (it was found out) naa diay mga media nga who sign the seize order bisan wala sa crime scene.  If imbestigahan on the case of Rallos, katong nakuha nga 75 grams it was there, and ingon sa family planted, how can we? It cost P400,000, how can we?” Sinas said.

He added that the background checks conducted were looked into as it may be relevant to the background of Rallos and might help the police in locating the suspects behind his slay. — GAN (FREEMAN)