BY RAYMOND AFRICA

PNP CHIEF Avelino Razon Jr. yesterday said he would reveal the identity of the reporter who allegedly helped Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape during the Manila Peninsula standoff last November only on the order of the justice department.

"We need an order from the DoJ to reveal the identity of the female reporter. In the absence of such order, we will not give any information," said Razon who on Tuesday said the reporter would be identified only after Faeldon or his cohorts are captured.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the PNP’s evidence against the reporter is merely circumstantial so the police should now make public the video footage showing the reporter handling Faeldon what appeared to be a media ID card.

Reports quoting police sources identified the reporter as Dana Batnag of the Tokyo-based Japanese news service Jiji Press. The reports said she was seen in a footage from RPN-9 TV station talking with Faeldon.

The PNP earlier said the reporter was seen in a tape recording of the hotel’s closed-circuit TV.

Batnag, in a text message, said: "I have not been informed by the police that I am a suspect in the escape of Marine Capt. Faeldon. I am honored to be one of the victims in the government’s witch-hunt against the media, but my conscience is clear for I have done nothing wrong."

Batnag further said she "appeal(s) to the authorities to file the proper charges before the courts to prove that this is a government of laws."

RPN 9 issued a one-page statement on the footage.

"In compliance with the subpoena issued by the PNP CIDG, we submitted last December 11 RPN’s raw footage of the Manila Peninsula standoff coverage…. We came across this certain video which was apparently taken by one of our cameramen by accident – Capt. Faeldon in one corner …. speaking with one lady reporter," said Marigold Haber-Dunca, news and current affairs director.

She said the network is "not siding with anyone" nor "passing judgment on anyone."

"Let the video speak for itself. We are making this video available to anyone who needs it in the interest of transparency," she said.

Razon said revealing the identity of the reporter now "might jeopardize" investigations on Faeldon’s escape.

Gonzalez said the release of the footage remains the prerogative of the PNP.

But, he added: "Personally I think it’s about time to release so that if we have the evidence, we can prosecute and file the charges. Kasi di naman marami ang babae doon sa hotel. So if you use the process of elimination, it won’t be difficult to narrow it down."

He appealed to the reporter to come out.

"The fact alone that two people were pictured together does not mean much. Kung nakita dun sa video yung pagbigay ng ID, whether it’s an ID or not, binigay mo dun in the haste of so many things going on, that’s an overt act," he said.

He said while the silent video footage will make strong evidence, it will just be circumstantial evidence. However, he said under the law, even circumstantial evidence can still cause a conviction.

"She should come clean and tell us everything if she wants to clear herself. If she does, it will mean that she’s not afraid because she doesn’t feel guilty. Anyway hindi naman siya arrested except that she will probably be subjected to tactical interrogation or surveillance," he said.

A class suit will be filed Monday by about 50 media practitioners who were arrested and "processed" by the police after the standoff.

"The filing of the class suit is important because it sends the message to those who want to trample on our Constitutional rights that members of the media are determined to fight for their rights and for the Constitution," said human rights lawyer Harry Roque.

Police have said the arrest was meant to identify legitimate media practitioners from members of the Magdalo group who they alleged faked media identities to escape authorities.

Roque said the case for injunction and damages will be anchored on the provision of Article 32 of the Civil Code which states: "Any public officer or employee, or any private individual, who directly or indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or impairs any of the following rights and liberties of another person shall be liable to the latter for damages…" – With Evangeline de Vera and Ashzel Hachero