Push Admin

#Halalan2022: PNP ready to carry out warrantless arrests vs those threatening journalists

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<h3>Task force mulls exempting media workers from Comelec&#x27;s gun ban</h3><p>MANILA—The Philippine National Police (PNP) is prepared to carry out &quot;warrantless arrests&quot; against those proven to have threatened journalists this election season, its spokesperson said on Saturday. </p><p>Police Spokesperson Col. Roderick Augustus Alba, the chief focal person nationwide for media complaints, said this developed after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) designated the police as so-called media security focal persons or &quot;media security vanguards.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/11/21/media-task-force-says-samar-journos-slay-not-work-related">&#x27;He wrote feel good stories&#x27;: PH media task force says Samar journalist&#x27;s death may not be work-related</a></li></ul><p>&quot;At kung kailangan hulihin ’yung mga taong nirereklamo, we have enough evidence, we could do warrantless arrests or kung mayroon tayong nag-file ng kaso, may warrants of arrests, puwede nating hulihin,&quot; Alba said during a televised public briefing.</p><p>&quot;Of course tinitingnan din natin dito ’yung pag-valdiate ng mga reklamo. Not all complaints . . . ’yung iba ay hindi valid complaints . . . related to their jobs, ’yung iba personal but still we are still willing to help.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1910150" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Alba said so far, at their level, police have yet to receive complaints. The election period started on January 9, while the campaign period is set to start next week. </p><p>But Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Joel Egco said 3 reports are being monitored — one &quot;near&quot; the capital region, one in Mindanao, and in Bicol. </p><p>&quot;Inaayos lang po namin ’yung report dito and we will inform officially sina Gen. Alba. As we speak ngayon, ngayon ko lang po ire-reveal sa inyo, may 3 po tayong tinututukan na medyo mainit,&quot; Egco said. </p><p>He added that media personnel could approach his office and security vanguards for concerns. </p><div><strong> GUN BAN </strong></div><p>Egco also mentioned plans to exempt media workers from the Commission on Election&#x27;s (Comelec) election gun ban. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/11/21/pnp-election-gun-ban-has-exemptions">&#x27;Responsible citizens&#x27; may apply for exemption in election gun ban— PNP</a></li></ul><p>The media protection task force, he said, will meet with the Comelec on February 2. </p><p>&quot;We are going to have a meeting with them and probably come up an arrangement on how we can hasten on how we can help our colleagues, na gusto naman, this is optional naman sa mga lumapit sa atin at magpa-exempt,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;They can do that individually also. They can apply for individual exemption. Ang mahalaga dito ay assessment natin, i-certify natin na pleaae grant exemption.&quot;</p><p>In 2019, a Quezon City court charged the Ampatuan brothers with murder of 58 people in the brutal 2009 Maguindanao massacre. </p><p>The Maguindanao massacre is considered the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history and single deadliest incident for journalists in the world where bodies were mutilated and dumped hurriedly in a mass grave.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/20/11-years-on-kin-of-maguindanao-massacre-victims-say-fight-not-over-despite-guilty-verdict">11 years on, kin of Maguindanao massacre victims say fight not over despite guilty verdict</a></li></ul><p>The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, and most of their killers go unpunished.</p>

The PNP on Saturday says it is prepared to carry out ‘warrantless arrests’ against those proven to have threatened journalists this election season.

#Halalan2022: PNP ready to carry out warrantless arrests vs those threatening journalists

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

#Halalan2022: PNP ready to carry out warrantless arrests vs those threatening journalists

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 29, 2022 12:56 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 29, 2022 02:52 PM PHT

Read More:

media killings

media threat

Halalan 2022

2022 elections

media security vanguards

media security focal persons

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.