PNP field commanders undergo training on media relations

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has subjected its senior field commanders in Metro Manila and Central Luzon to training seminars on media relations to foster healthy working relations between the police and media practitioners. PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr said leaders of major commands in the Visayas and Mindanao had also attended a similar series of seminars in the recent past. “This training is designed primarily to re-orient field commanders on best practices in media relations, and get a better understanding of the role of media in society,” Razon said in a statement. The PNP chief added the seminars are also in line with the police’s commitment to keep the public well informed with regards to their right to information especially on matters of public safety. "We should work closely with media because this is part and parcel of police work,” he said. He added that the seminars also aim "to take away the perceived adversarial relationship and instead embrace the concept of media as partners in public service." The seminars were an initiative of the PNP-Public Information Office under Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome. Bartolome said the short course emphasizes the PNP Media Relations Policy and provide participants with crash training on basic communication skills. It also has lectures on journalism practices, ethics, legal issues and libel law, news production, and events organization. Among the guest lecturers were Joe Torres, chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP); Deputy Commissioner Jaime Fortes Jr of the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC); lawyer Rudolph Jularbal of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP); and lawyer Persida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO). Bartolome said similar training had been completed for all Police Regional Offices in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. - GMANews.TV