Press Release
December 13, 2007

ROXAS DISMAYED BY ABSENCE OF AFP, PNP,
OTHER OFFICIALS IN SENATE HEARING

Senator Mar Roxas expressed dismay over the decision of the executive branch to disallow representatives of relevant agencies to appear before the Senate in today's hearing on the Manila Peninsula incident.

"The absence of AFP, PNP, and other civilian authorities deprived the senators and the public, of information regarding the kind of coverage protocol that they have in mind for media to consider during times of conflict," Roxas said.

Senators Roxas and Benigno Aquino III filed Senate Resolution No. 229 calling for the Senate inquiry into the "processing" of journalists after the Manila Peninsula standoff on November 29.

In said resolution, the two Liberal Party stalwarts said, "The press is duly recognized by the Constitution as a counterbalance against the institutional abuse of power, through the transparent coverage of news events, in order to forestall any and all forms of abuse, deception or propaganda."

Roxas urged the executive branch to reconsider its approach of sending AFP and PNP officials to future dialogues with the press. "Such dialogues are bound to flop unless discussions on operational matters are grounded on constitutional principles," the senator added.

The president of the Liberal Party said rather than relying on men in uniform to build a consensus with the media, the Office of the President should direct civilian authorities such as Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez or their senior undersecretaries to exchange views with the press on how to ensure press freedom during conflict situations without getting in the way of security operations.

"We must not trivialize the 'processing' of journalists after the Manila Peninsula incident because according to the PNP, security threats remain high. The issue of press freedom in times of conflict is of great importance to the country's democratic foundations. It is essential to ensure clarification and transparency on the rules of engagement between the media and law enforcers to avoid confusion should similar incidents happen again in the future," Roxas said.

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