Push Admin

'It's policy': PNP defends limited access to spot reports

Article (news)

Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday defended its move to limit media access to police spot reports, saying it is just implementing policy. PNP spokesperson Supt. Dionardo Carlos said spot reports are documents related to an ongoing investigation and may not be released to the media, unless permitted by the head of office. The policy came to light just as the force drew flak anew over controversial Caloocan City police operations where teens <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/24/17/pnp-pao-agree-on-autopsy-kian-already-down-when-shot">Kian Loyd Delos Santos</a>, 17, and <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/17/pao-dating-up-student-tinorture-bago-pinatay-ng-caloocan-police">Carl Angelo Arnaiz</a>, 19 were killed. While police alleged crime against the two, evidence and witness statements suggest they were murdered. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/17/another-kian-pao-slams-pattern-in-death-of-2-teens">Another Kian? PAO slams &#x27;pattern&#x27; in death of 2 teens</a></li></ul>&quot;It is on the level of the head of office, his duly [designated] representative, his PIO (public information officer) or his spokesperson to determine the release of the information,&quot; he said, stressing that spot reports may be released by a police station chief if he believes it will not affect an ongoing investigation. He said reporters still have access to blotters, which are classified as public documents under the PNP Media Relations Manual issued on Feb. 18, 2014.&quot;We address by your request, FOI (Freedom of Information). Hindi ho ilalantaran at kukunin kaagad without the proper authority in releasing this document,&quot; said the PNP official. Carlos reiterated that limiting access to spot reports was just an implementation of existing policy and not based on an order from PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, contrary to a newspaper report. At a recent Senate hearing on teen killings, the PNP chief said police need <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/05/17/bato-says-pnp-has-no-command-plan-to-stop-ejk">clearance from President Rodrigo Duterte</a> before releasing spot reports to senators who want the documents as part of their records. &quot;There was instruction from the President that we have to ask clearance from him before we give those papers to you,&quot; Dela Rosa said.Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) slammed this move by the PNP, saying it is illegal to withhold spot reports from the media. The NUJP stressed that a police spot report is a public document that should be available to everyone, not just the media, &quot;in the principle of transparency and accountability.&quot;&quot;There is absolutely no reason why the agency sworn to &#x27;serve and protect&#x27; the people should cloak its operations in secrecy,&quot; the NUJP said in a statement.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday defended its move to limit media access to police spot reports, saying it is just implementing policy.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday defended its move to limit media access to police spot reports, saying it is just implementing policy.

'It's policy': PNP defends limited access to spot reports

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

'It's policy': PNP defends limited access to spot reports

Jorge Cariño,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 13, 2017 05:38 PM PHT

|

Updated September 13, 2017 09:19 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

Police

Spot Reports

Media

Manual

Freedom of Information

Transparency

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

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.