THE Commission on Human Rights on Friday
called on PNP chief Jesus Verzosa to "review, re-examine, and
recall" that portion of his Oct. 20, 2008 memorandum which
limits media access to police blotters.
Malacañang said Versoza has to clarify and
explain his latest directive because the right to information is
"very basic" and police blotters are considered public records
and therefore "should be available."
CHR chairperson Leila de Lima said the PNP
may be aiming at a systematic management of information
dissemination but the move "speaks of zealousness that may not
be necessary."
"The move was overboard, not warranted, and
not necessary," de Lima stressed. "We share the view of the
media that this directive is questionable. The denial of the
right to access documents may be provided for under the law, but
the absence of any law (regarding that), I think, the PNP has no
right to limit the access."
In his Oct. 20 memorandum, Verzosa ordered
that the public and the media be barred access to police
blotters unless they have proper authorization from the head
office or the disclosure is in compliance with a lawful order of
the court or any pertinent authority. He said the move was to
protect the integrity of the document and the identity of any
victim and suspect.
Director Leopoldo Bataoil of police community
relations said they have no quarrel with the CHR and were merely
complying with certain laws, including the one that calls for
the protection of victims of violence who are minors.
Bataoil and PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Nicanor
Barto-lome, upon Verzosa’s order, summoned all police spokesmen
and public information officers in Metro Manila and nearby
provinces to clear up the matter.
Police maintained that it has not and will
not prohibit media access to official reports, including police
blotters. Bataoil also reminded everyone of the law that
mandates protection for women and children who are victims of
violence and subject of ongoing police operations, and of the
jail time and stiff fines it carries for violators. "This is why
we want two blotters in a police station, one for the general
blotter and the other which will be confidential as the law
says," he said.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza expressed confidence that
Versoza or even the Department of Interior would not clamp down
on public information or restrict freedom to information. "They
would be the last ones to do that. That’s why we’d like to see
this clarified first before we can even ask them to rectify. We
cannot ask for a reversal unless we are clarified on what is the
context and specifics on that particular order," he said. –
Raymond Africa and Jocelyn Montemayor
