NBI investigates alleged harassment of lensman
>> Monday, November 21, 2011
SAN FERNANDO CITY - National Bureau of Investigation-Central Luzon Regional Office Director Ric Diaz assured legitimate media practitioners in Pampanga of an independent and impartial investigation on the alleged harassment by some of his agents against a purported tabloid photographer during a raid on a nightclub in Angeles City.
“I have ordered an in-depth investigation about it to avoid misperception of whitewash,” Diaz said, adding that his office will not tolerate such acts by his own men.
On the basis of a complaint from the Kamalayan Foundation that minors were employed in its premises, the NBI last November 10 raided the Stampede Bar along Don Juico Ave, Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City, -- not Fields Avenue, Balibago as reported in some accounts.
At least 10 entertainers were rounded up during the raid. They were taken to the NBI office for further investigation.
During the raid, a certain Bernard Galang, purportedly of People’s Tonight, was seen taking pictures of the bar workers.
Galang later complained of having been allegedly manhandled by NBI agents, shoved into a van, and told to delete the photographs he took of the raid.
Diaz, however, clarified that it was not the NBI agents that asked Galang to delete the pictures but the women from the Kamalayan Foundation and group of Inter-Agency Council Against Human Trafficking as well as the workers of Stampede Bar.
Witnesses on-site were reported to have said that Galang did not have the proper identification as a working mediaperson when he was taking the pictures.
“He only showed an old press card after he was accosted,” a witness said.
This, even as Diaz admitted that the head of the perimeter security during operation failed to control the crowd that almost mobbed the photographer.
He said those who attempted to gang-up on the photographer were all employees of the Stampede Bar who were agitated by his presence.
“Taking photos of women with their faces clearly shown during an anti-human trafficking operations is a human rights violation,” Diaz reminded media. “We should respect the rights to privacy of the subjects, most especially when minors are involved.”
Diaz said that while he supports press freedom, it should not be “misused or abused as to infringe on the human rights of others.”
He assured media groups in the province that his office will not be an instrument in the curtailment of press freedom.
“If ever, I’m the last person to do it,” Diaz said. – Punto Central Luzon
“I have ordered an in-depth investigation about it to avoid misperception of whitewash,” Diaz said, adding that his office will not tolerate such acts by his own men.
On the basis of a complaint from the Kamalayan Foundation that minors were employed in its premises, the NBI last November 10 raided the Stampede Bar along Don Juico Ave, Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City, -- not Fields Avenue, Balibago as reported in some accounts.
At least 10 entertainers were rounded up during the raid. They were taken to the NBI office for further investigation.
During the raid, a certain Bernard Galang, purportedly of People’s Tonight, was seen taking pictures of the bar workers.
Galang later complained of having been allegedly manhandled by NBI agents, shoved into a van, and told to delete the photographs he took of the raid.
Diaz, however, clarified that it was not the NBI agents that asked Galang to delete the pictures but the women from the Kamalayan Foundation and group of Inter-Agency Council Against Human Trafficking as well as the workers of Stampede Bar.
Witnesses on-site were reported to have said that Galang did not have the proper identification as a working mediaperson when he was taking the pictures.
“He only showed an old press card after he was accosted,” a witness said.
This, even as Diaz admitted that the head of the perimeter security during operation failed to control the crowd that almost mobbed the photographer.
He said those who attempted to gang-up on the photographer were all employees of the Stampede Bar who were agitated by his presence.
“Taking photos of women with their faces clearly shown during an anti-human trafficking operations is a human rights violation,” Diaz reminded media. “We should respect the rights to privacy of the subjects, most especially when minors are involved.”
Diaz said that while he supports press freedom, it should not be “misused or abused as to infringe on the human rights of others.”
He assured media groups in the province that his office will not be an instrument in the curtailment of press freedom.
“If ever, I’m the last person to do it,” Diaz said. – Punto Central Luzon
0 comments:
Post a Comment