More Media Groups Denounce Military Profiling Of Journalists In Mindanao

For quite a time the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) Western Mindanao Chapter became silent about some issues regarding media harassment here in our region, but this time, the considered harassment and invasion to privacy of the profiling being imposed by Western Mindanao Command strongly gains dismay to this organization and its members covering the military beat and conflict areas.

We support the issued statement of WESMINCOM (Western Mindanao Command) Spokesman Army Major Eugene Batara that the purpose of such move was to serve as basis/ reference in identifying the journalists covering the military beat and issue them an identification card from the command, but the manner it was done was foul and considered personal harassment to us, the media, who has been covering the military beat before these officials were assigned in WESMINCOM and since the command was established from its birth-towards its various names till it became WESMINCOM at present which is just few years old.

All those years, we uphold the respect and integrity of the command whom we consider as partners for peace and development in Mindanao by following the orders and coordinating with the command and field commanders everytime we conduct coverages of conflict areas. We didn't have a problem then with previous commanders of SOUTHCOM, except for a few who tried to imposed similar profiling before to the members of the Defense Press Corps.

I do not know if these present officials in WESMINCOM has conducted a background investigation of such previous instances of failed profiling which was tried to be imposed by those irrational commanders before, because of their failures in performing their given responsibilities, it even came to a point of banning the media from entering the military camp which is a clear manifestation of suppressing the freedom of the press,as we recall...

We fairly know that the FREEDOM of the PRESS is not absolute, but it is not right to be supressed by those people in government, particularly the military who are "VANGUARDS" of peace and democracy, ISN'T IT?

And we cannot understand why the command issued such orders without even having a dialogue,consulting or relaying the message to the officers of the Defense Press Corps headed by its president Roel Pareno of Philippine Star? He is just a phone call away and day to day covering WESMINCOM, gentlemen. WE are civilians and not AFP organic personnel who must obey orders before complaining, but needs a civil approach as we are human in nature.

We the members of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) Western Mindanao Chapter strongly sympathize and stand firm alongside with our fellow mediamen covering the WESMINCOM beat, that the move of the command is uncalled for and must be properly evaluated by its concerned officialsbefore it will be imposed, a dialogue with the media is hepful to resolve this matter once and for all, BOTH SIDES MUST BE HEARD to give JUSTICE for this cause, as we envoke our rights to privacy,information, and press freedom.

for the PECOJON-WM Chapter


SGD:MARLON "Bhong" SIMBAJON
Regional Coordinator