Marikina police says Super Radyo reporter was confronted because he had no ID, not in uniform

For the chief of Marikina City Police, the security forces did not do anything "inappropriate" when they confronted Super Radyo dzBB reporter Mark Makalalad after doing a live video report along Marcos Highway on Thursday.

In a statement to reporters on Friday, Police Colonel Restituto Arcangel said two cops and two marine officers confronted Makalalad because he was not wearing a uniform and identification card to signify that he is a member of the media.

"I don’t think our troops did something inappropriate considering the circumstances. Hindi nila nakilala si Mark Makalalad dahil hindi siya naka-uniform, walang ID," Arcangel said.

"Hindi nila napansin na may marked vehicle ng media, and then 'yung gamit ni Mark Makalalad ay cellphone lang at hindi 'yung usual na camera typically used by the media," he added.

With the advent of technology, most reporters now use their cellphones and gadgets to report, also known as mobile journalism.

Arcangel asked for everyone's understanding following the incident, noting that the matter has already been resolved between the two parties.

Captain Roderick Pacilan, company commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion manning along Marcos Highway, said security forces calmly confronted the radio reporter.

Citing information from the police officers who had confronted Makalalad, Pacilan said the reporter slightly raised his voice towards the men in uniform.

"So hinanapan siya ng ID nina Police Master Sergeant Gatus tapos sagot naman niya ay wala siyang ID na dala then medyo nagtaas na siya ng boses then ang sagot naman ni PMsg Gatus ay 'Wag po kayo magalit at magtaas ng boses,' then ipinaliwanag nila for security purposes at wala siyang ID na naipakita... saka na lang po siya kumalma..." Pacilan narrated.

Pacilan expressed apology over the incident, noting that they have always been respecting members of the media.

In a Facebook post, Makalalad had explained that he had never been made to ask permission in his experience of shooting live reports in various locations daily.

“Ito ang argument ko: kunwari ordinary citizen lang ako at naglalalakad at nagvi-video, kunwari, vlogger, kailangan ko rin bang magpaalam sa kanila? Sumagot ‘yung isang pulis, baka kasi sir ‘kalaban ka,’” Makalalad said.

“Doon nagpantig ang tenga ko," he added.

He added that he removed his ID and left it in the vehicle, which was parked nearby, to do the report.

Makalalad said he asked JTF-Covid shield Commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar if there is an existing directive that journalists need to coordinate with police when they are doing their report and the police official said: "Walang ganyang instruction, Mark."

PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac has said the police organization always treats the media as an ally and partner in maintenance of peace and order and that it will always uphold the freedom of the press.

“But definitely, we have no policy that requires media to ask prior permission from PNP to do live report in public places,” Banac said.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also slammed the police’s intimidation of Makalalad.

“That policemen could even think anyone on the street, much less a journalist, could be their ‘enemy’ is horrifying. How can we expect them to ‘serve and protect’ a citizenry they view with suspicion?” the group said.—AOL, GMA News