The PNP on security of media

 EDITORIAL

With the rising cases of media killings, a top police official said the Philippine National Police through the Police Community Relations Group is providing steps on security awareness and protection for newsmen in provinces.

Harris R. Fama, chief of the information and communication development division of PCRG in Camp Crame, said Chief Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. has stressed “utmost security of media practitioners.”

               

Fama said security measures and tips were provided by the PNP during the recent media conference with Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. at the Makati Sports Club.

               

“Coping with the rapid changes in news publishing,” Fama said the conference had various lectures which included PNP-media partnership on how best to enhance the security of media practitioners, we can agree on and do right away.”

               

Said lectures were discussed with an open-forum that addressed and clarified participants’ queries, said Fama who lectured on personal security measures for media practitioners.

               

The PNP also distributed handbooks on  personal security measures for media practitioners which included detection and threat assessment detecting surveillance, personal and children security, security at home and workplace, vehicle and travel security and others.

               

Fama added the lecture also encouraged media practitioners to be always smart and safe at all times, saying “this basically entails awareness, vigilance and discreet preparedness.”

               

In other words, it depends on the media practitioner himself to practice measures so that he would not fall prey to evil schemes (like torture and assassination) perpetrated by bad elements of society which include officials who are hit by negative comments or news articles.