Ang Pahayagan

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines commends and stands with colleagues who joined the anti-corruption protests on September 21, either to cover or to participate.

While colleagues on duty generally followed coverage guidelines, we note incidents where journalists were subjected to harassment or violence while doing their jobs.

While we acknowledge the high emotions of the moment, we call on the public to respect the role of media during these events.

Media coverage helps amplify calls, clarify developments and serve as a record of our country’s history.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯, 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

We also remind the Philippine National Police to do the same and demand accountability for a documented report of police grabbing and hitting photojournalist Zedrich Madrid who was covering the arrests.

Colleagues have also reported being denied access to the pedestrian footbridge near Mendiola and later having tear gas thrown near them.

“The response from the police was disproportionate. The use of tear gas was indiscriminate, affecting not only their ‘targets’ – which are all civilian protesters – but also journalists and bystanders too,” one colleague writes in an incident report submitted to the NUJP Safety Office.

While the PNP has denied the use of tear gas, several colleagues reported that it was used and that it had affected them.

We appreciate quick action by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security on immediate cases and will work with them on reports that the safety office has been receiving.

We take this opportunity as well to remind newsrooms and teams to make sure media workers covering protests have personal protective equipment as well as coverage plans that include contingencies for violent incidents.

𝗔 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

In the wake of violence in the afternoon and evening of September 21, the public will look to the media to help make sense of what happened, who were involved, and how law enforcement responded to these — so far, we have monitored arrests, reports of excessive use of force, and the use of tear gas and water cannons.

We call on colleagues to report on developments after the protests soberly and comprehensively amid conspiracy theories and rumors about the violence after the main rallies.

The violence is part of the continuing story of the country as it grapples with widespread corruption that has affected the lives of everyone that has stirred up anger and frustration that our fellow Filipinos express in different ways.

Fellow media workers with reports of harassment and other incidents are encouraged to reach out to the NUJP Safety Office for documentation.

NUJP also has volunteer peer supporters for debriefing.