MANILA — The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is calling on all media organizations in the country to support its effort for Congress to amend specific provisions of RA 9165 by removing the presence of members of the press during anti-drug operations and inventory of seized evidence.
“Given the advances in technology and with the Supreme Court already mandating the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to use body cameras in some of their operations, the need for the presence of members of the press during anti-drug operations and inventory of seized evidence has become unnecessary,” said PTFoMS Executive Director Paul M. Gutierrez.
“On this, I call on all media colleagues and their organizations to support the PTFoMS in asking Congress to amend RA 9165 accordingly. This is also for the good of all members of the press,” he added.
RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Gutierrez noted, was passed in 2002 “and since then, we have seen the dizzying pace in the advancement of technology that can monitor all law enforcement activities, and any activity for that matter, 24/7.”
Specifically, the PTFoMS wants Congress to amend Paragraph 1 of Section 21 of RA 9165 that presently reads:
“(1) The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof…”
“At the time this provision was incorporated into the law, Congress recognized the public’s apprehension as regards the activities of some anti-drug operatives engaging in corrupt activities and the tampering of evidence in favor of drug suspects thus the need for neutral observers like members of the press.
“But with the advances in technology and with appropriate safeguards to be placed by Congress and the judiciary, anti-drug operations can now be conducted with greater transparency and on real-time without the need of a journalist being present,” Gutierrez added.
Gutierrez further noted that as far back as November 23, 2018, the National Press Club (NPC), under the term of President Rolando ‘Rolly’ Gonzalo, had already petitioned Congress to amend Paragraph 1, Section 21 of RA 9165.
Gutierrez said the issue of amending RA 9165 has become urgent with the shooting of Remate Online photographer Joshua Abiad last June 29, 2023 in Quezon City where his being a witness to some anti-drug operations by the police is among the motives being looked into by investigators.
Another Remate reporter and NPC member, Tiburcio ‘Jojo’ Trajano, was killed during a firefight between the police and drug suspects after joining a police anti-drug operation in Rizal province, Gutierrez noted further.
He added removing members of the press as witnesses to anti-drug operations and inventory of evidence would also remove from them the burden of attending court hearings and the risk of being targeted by drug suspects.
“Also, it would remove petty corruption whereby members of the press are paid by anti-drug operatives in exchange for affixing their signatures to the inventory sheet and testifying in court.” (UnliNews Online)
