Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. must think the public is as blind as his subordinates when he said it was difficult to determine who were protesters and who were journalists in the July 22 violent dispersal in Pasay City.

The police violence against an otherwise peaceful protest against the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is already condemnable. But equally deplorable is the PNP’s seeming inability to know what press IDs and cameras are for, much less the people’s capacity to discern that yesterday’s violence was nothing but repression.

Unfortunately for the PNP, videos of the police’s attempt to arrest photojournalists Bullit Marquez and Renato Dilan contradict this effort at a cover-up. The media workers’ cameras clearly identified them as journalists covering the event.

Police efforts to prevent photos being taken of Bangsamoro leader Amirah Lidasan’s attempted arrest triggered the apprehension of Marquez and Dilan. No spin, even by the country’s top cop, could undermine the fact. The simultaneous detention of Bulatlat correspondent Jian Sanz during the dispersal also belies Nartatez Jr.’s claim that no journalist was targeted. Sanz said it was a lie that she was rescued by police officers when she fell and was trampled upon during the commotion.

“Firstly, three or four of you tried to arrest me…You are such liars, and the worst!” Bulatlat’s Sanz was quoted as saying.

Altermidya Network condemns the PNP for its violence, excuses, and utter disregard for the people’s right to peaceably assemble and air grievances. We condemn the police for its attacks on media workers and contempt for our work. We call for an independent investigation into the incident and appropriate charges filed against the perpetrators. #

Reference: Raymund Villanueva (Altermidya national chairperson)