GMA News team complains of police harassment in Bulacan

A GMA News lady researcher and her team have complained of police harassment during a surveillance mission against mulcting (kotong) cops in Bulacan province. According to the researcher, who requested anonymity for security reasons, the incident happened on November 30 at 3 p.m., when she and her team members, a videographer and two assistant videographers, were at the parking area of the SM supermarket in Baliuag town. Suspecting that their activities were videotaped, police elements subjected GMA’s Imbestigador crew to interrogation and even blocked the team’s car with police patrol vehicles to prevent the group from leaving the area," the researcher told GMANews.TV on Sunday. But after the heated exchanges and “threats" from the cops, a man who introduced himself only as Col. Santos (police chief) intervened and finally let the TV crew leave," she said. The 'harassment' The researcher narrated that her team was on its fifth day of its surveillance for the reported kotong activities allegedly led by a certain PO3 Orlando Cruz. She said that before 5 p.m. on November 30, a certain PO2 Numeriano Ayroso discovered that the Imbestigador crew was taking video of the cops hanging around in the area. Ayroso and Cruz approached the surveillance team’s car at the SM parking area fronting Doña Remedios Trinidad Highway. The videographer opened the window and Ayroso immediately asked "Sino Kayo? Bakit nyo kami kinukunan ng video (who are you? Why are you taking video of us?)" The videographer replied, “we are just parking here. Is there any problem?" "Bakit nyo kami kinukunan ng (why are you taking) video of us?" Ayroso said. According to the researcher, one of the assistant cameramen intervened and asked Cruz back, "How did you know that we are taking video?" A heated argument ensued and Cruz even tried to force the team to let him play the camcorder himself. "Kapag kami ang laman nyan (if we find out that we are being videotaped...)" Cruz said in a seemingly threatening voice. At that point, the lady researcher managed to contact Imbestigador's associate producer, informing him about the incident. The producer advised the group that if necessary, they should tell the truth that they are working for GMA Network and leave the area at once. At first, the team did not follow the producer's advice, thinking that it would only complicate the situation. Cruz continued on interrogating the team and appeared unconvinced about anything the group said. “We stayed for less than 10 minutes at the parking area, hoping that Cruz would just leave the team alone," the lady researcher said. She added: “While they were maneuvering toward the exit, three other policemen were talking to the security guards at SM, pointing at our vehicle. It looked like they wanted to hold us." As we turned to leave the parking lot heading for the highway, a police patrol car driven by PO1 Calixto Decasa blocked our way. Soon after, another patrol car emerged flanking our car on the other side. More and more policemen came around. Then, some SM security guards tried to prevent us from leaving the vicinity, Queñano narrated. “We decided to alight from our vehicle and roll the camera on them. We then identified ourselves as media people working for GMA 7 and confronted Cruz for holding us even if we did not violate any law," she added. The researcher quoted Cruz as saying, "I was just asking who you were and why were you taking videos of us." Another policeman, who later identified himself as Arnulfo Tanggol, insisted that the crew should go to the police precinct to discuss the matter. “I told them no, unless they tell us our violation and why they block us," she said, adding that Tanggol even said they could take the team with them whether we like it or not. Tanggol allegedly insisted they would search the vehicle, but the team resisted. “Finally, the police chief who identified himself only as Col. Santos, intervened and apologized for the action of the cops, and ordered his men to allow us to go," she said. She told GMANews.TV that part of the video they took when they were blocked by police cars were shown on Imbestigador last Saturday - LBG, GMANews.TV