Journalists welcomed the apology from Davao City police director Vicente Danao for his tirade on three reporters, but they said the city police must do away with its rough treatment on members of the press.
Two Tagum City reporters and their news director were reportedly harassed by police intelligence officers and a military spokesperson respectively, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said.
Police also drove away reporters and injured a photojournalist, Barry Ohaylan of Pinoy Weekly & Kilab Multimedia, who was bleeding in the head after being hit by a police officer.
Conde further said that with the spate of killings, “the Aquino administration needs to declare that the attacks on journalists are a national catastrophe that threatens fundamental liberties.”
Police probe the crime scene where radio commentator Rogelio 'Tata' Butalid was shot outside of Radyo Natin Tagum in Sobrecary Street last Wednesday past 9am. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)