QUEZON CITY — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday condemned the Quezon City police for allegedly using violence against Bulatlat reporter Ernest Cruz while he was covering a farmers’ protest at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) central office.

In a statement dated Oct. 19, the NUJP said Cruz was among media workers covering the protest when the incident occurred.

A video posted by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines showed Cruz identifying himself as a member of the media and presenting his identification card to police officers. Despite this, the NUJP said police personnel continued using force against him as they attempted to restrain him.

Robie Matias, a campus journalist from Far Eastern University and correspondent for Tudla, was also injured after being caught in a standoff between protesters and police.

In a comment on a video of the incident posted by Matanglawin Ateneo, Matias alleged that police officers deliberately stepped on him.

The NUJP said the incident was not the first time police had been accused of using violence or harassment against journalists covering protests.

It cited incidents during the Sept. 21, 2025, anti-corruption protests, when journalists reportedly experienced assaults, obstruction and exposure to tear gas while covering police operations.

The group also cited the issuance of a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group subpoena to Polytechnic University of the Philippines student journalist Jacob Baluyot following the September 2025 protests, as well as reports that police officers visited his home. Baluyot had maintained that he attended the protest in his capacity as a journalist.

The NUJP further recalled an incident on July 22, 2026, when police attempted to arrest photojournalists Bullit Marquez and Rene Dilan while they were covering a protest in Pasay City.

The group called on authorities to hold the officers involved in the latest incident accountable and ensure that journalists can cover demonstrations without fear of violence or obstruction.

It cited the Philippine National Police’s Revised Media Relations Policy, which recognizes the media’s role in upholding the public’s right to information, as well as an October 2025 agreement between the National Police Commission and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security that prohibits the use of force against media workers and provides mechanisms for investigating complaints against police personnel.

The NUJP also urged the PNP and NAPOLCOM to uphold their commitments under the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which calls for measures to protect journalists and allow them to work safely and freely.

The group joined other media organizations in urging the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident and help ensure accountability for violations of press freedom. (Ang Pahayagan Reportorial Team)