PHILIPPINES: JUSTICE SECRETARY’S BAN ON PHOTOGRAPHERS IRRATIONAL — PIMENTEL – PinoyPress

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PHILIPPINES: JUSTICE SECRETARY’S BAN ON PHOTOGRAPHERS IRRATIONAL — PIMENTEL

PUBLISHED ON January 23, 2008 AT 3:47 AM

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said Justice Secretary Raul
Gonzalez is acting irresponsibly and beyond the norms
for public servants when he issued an absurd order
banning members of the Press Photographers of the
Philippines from the premises of the Department of
Justice specifically to cover his press conferences
and other activities.

As reported by some television networks, Gonzalez
imposed the ban in retaliation for a PPP manifesto
criticizing the justice secretary for issuing an
“advisory” reminding reporters, photographers and
media organizations that they could be held legally
liable if they refuse to leave the premises of a
conflict situation.

The advisory was issued in anticipation of possible
troubles or crisis that may break out during the Jan.
22 protest-rally of farmers from various parts of the
country to commemorate the massacre of 13 peasants at
the historic Mendiola bridge, the gateway to
Malacañang, in 1987.

“Secretary Gonzalez is entitled to his inanities. He
is now acting like an ersatz dictator ensconced in his
little office who believes he has total power to do
with media as he sees fit,” Pimentel said.

“In any case, if he succeeds in banning media from his
press conferences, it may be good for the people as it
will spare them from reading about or hearing of his
puerile antics.”

Members of the media were reminded by Gonzalez that
they would be interfering in legitimate military and
police operations if they defy the order to leave the
areas that are declared off-limits to them.

Pimentel said it sounds irrational and
incomprehensible that members of the media would be
banned from covering such extraordinary events when
that is part of their function of reporting to the
people.

He said the situation is made worse by the warning of
law enforcement authorities that they will have to use
force if the journalists ignore the prohibition order.

This means they will be forcibly ejected from the site
of the events, handcuffed and detained just like what
happened during the Nov. 29 standoff at the Peninsula
Hotel in Makati City.
-o0o-

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THE NEWS IN PICTURES

Where Are They? Relatives, friends and colleagues of victims of enforced disappearances commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared with lighted lanterns and photographs at the Plaza Miranda and in Mendiola on Aug. 30. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Free at Last. The so-called Tagaytay 5 -- Aris Sarmiento, Axel Pinpin, Riel Custodio, Michael Masayes and Rico Ybañez -- shown here inside their prison cell during their incarceration, were freed yesterday. “The dismissal of trumped-up charges and release of Tagaytay 5 is a victory for human rights,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan's public information officer. (Photo: freetagaytay5.net)

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)

Displaced. Lumad families from Compostela and Monkayo towns, in Compostela Valley Province, seek refuge in Davao City after being displaced by intense counter-insurgency operations by the military in their communities this month. The 210 evacuees, of which 83 are children, are now staying inside a gym. The number of evacuees is expected to rise, according to NGOs. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)

PHILIPPINES: JUSTICE SECRETARY’S BAN ON PHOTOGRAPHERS IRRATIONAL — PIMENTEL

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