PNP directive restricting blotter viewing under fire

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine National Police (PNP) memorandum circular disallowing the public and journalists access of police blotters came under fire on Thursday. National Press Club president Benny Antiporda said media should not be restrained from getting information from the police blotter since it is a public document and that the public has the right to information. PNP chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa's directive, dated Oct. 30, titled "The Decentralization of the Public Information Office," directs police officials not to immediately release to the public information indicated in police blotters. Details in a blotter would first have to be forwarded to the Public Information Office (PIO) of the respective police stations. Only then can people acquire the details to a criminal incident. Also, a civilian or a reporter would first have to secure a court order or an authorization from a police unit head before he is allowed to take a peek at the police record. Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, who chairs that Senate committee on Public Information and Mass Media, said the Senate would be inviting anew Verzosa to explain to lawmakers the reason behind the memorandum order. Revilla said Verzosa would be asked to show up when the Senate committee holds its hearing on the Freedom of Access to Information Bill. The senator said it was wrong to "hide" the contents of a blotter from the people, especially from members of the media because a blotter is considered a public document. He said the PNP order violated the provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution pertaining to free access to information. Revilla advised Verzosa to "reconsider" his actions regarding the police blotter system and asked for an immediate "recall" of the memorandum circular. CHR chairperson Leila de Lima seconded Revilla's statement that a blotter is a public document, saying limiting access to it would constitute a violation of the people's right to information. "Bakit ipagbabawal iyan without a court order… Kung ililimit iyang access to information, that's a violation of the right to information," De Lima said in a separate radio interview. Misinterpretation PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said reports that the memorandum circular curtails the people's right to free access to information were triggered by a "misinterpretation." Bartolome said the media and the public are not necessarily barred from viewing the blotters. He said the PNP is only "synchronizing" the information contained in the books to safeguard the rights of women and children involved in crimes. Also, through the memorandum order, the PNP hopes to give its investigators more time to verify every detail in a case before it gets disseminated in the media. National Press Club’s Antiporda said media persons are responsible enough not to infringe on the rights of individuals concerned until they are proven to be guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Verzosa's directive that only PNP public information officer to issue statement is with good intention, however, these PIO stay in the office only from 8-12 hours while mediapersons work till the wee hours , he said. Opposition from investigators Even the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Manila Police District expressed disapproval of the order saying the order could stall their investigation. Investigators were quoted in a radio report as saying blotters help them keep track of the situation in their area of responsibility because they are immediately entered in blotters, thereby helping expedite the solving of a criminal case. Manila police investigators claimed that the PNP’s PIOs are usually unaware of the full details of a case and that public information officers are unavailable during the night. - Mark Merueñas and D’Jay Lazaro,GMANews.TV