Verzosa to issue clarificatory memorandum on the controversial provision banning media to have access in blotter, he also apoligizes for the misunders

Miami
November 10, 2008
Story: Verzosa to issue clarificatory memorandum on the controversial provision banning media to have access in blotter, he also apoligizes for the misunderstanding that arises

Philippine National Police Chief, Police Director General Jesus Verzosa together with the Directorate for Police Community Relations Police Director Leopoldo Bataoil and PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, had a dialogue with media representatives to clarify what does the released memorandum of the PNP is all about.

Among those present are Benie Artiporda, President of National Press Club (NPC), Atty. Rejie Jularbal legal counsel of Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng PIlipinas (KBP) and Dante Jimenez founding chairman of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

Verzosa assures the media representatives that the press freedom will never be sacrificed just because of the memo he made. He reiterates that what they aimed for is to have a nice coordination and communication with the media people.

“We hope that you understood our point and position and if there was misunderstanding we feel sorry about it,” Verzosa said as he apologize for the confusion that his memo made.
He also said that what he meant for the section 7 letter e of the memo is to protect the rights of the women and children who have complaints. The said provision stated that “any information in the police blotter should not be made available to the public and media.”

The PNP also stated that they will abide with the law on the right to information and free access to public information.

“We don’t intend to prohibit information dissemination, we want to inform you that memo on decentralization was meant to enhance information dissemination,” Verzosa said.

“Please help us in coming up more specific relationships and cordial interaction with you (media),” Verzosa told the reporters.

Jimenez, who is also present at the dialogue, said that the concern of the VACC is the right of the victims specifically the women and the children involved. “Other than that, we believed that press freedom should not be suppressed.”

Artiporda said as a media practitioner, they already knew what should be reported and not. He also suggests to the media that if the report in blotter is “for record purposes” ask the designated spokesperson why it is for record purposes only.

If the blotter is “for follow-up, as a reporter, think first if it is necessary to report or not because you might be affecting the case per se,” Artiporda added.

On the next memorandum that the PNP will release, Verzosa said it will only clarify the section 7 letter e of the memo and other that is written on the provision will remain.

“The head of office will really have to designate a spokesperson that can brief the media on the crimes that has occurred because we want them to learn on how to coordinate to the media and for them also to be aware of what is happening on their respective places,” Verzosa explains.

Atty. Jularbal said that when the memorandum was explained to him he said he understand their situation and reminded the media that the memo is for the police itself and not for the media. “But I also said that as long as the PNP will respect right to information, we are willing to cooperate with themotherwise if they make an action that will limit our access to information, we will fight.”

Both PNP and NPC are expecting that the clarificatory memorandum will be out on Wednesday, November 12.