BULLY! Don’t shoot the messenger!

BULLY! Don’t shoot the messenger!

San Juanico TV crew members, Noel Tampil Sianosa, Jr., Ted Allen Tomas and Lito Bagunas were then conducting an interview with a couple-farmers Virgilio and Anecita Nogal, who claimed they were land reform beneficiaries and, thus, the rightful owners of a plot of rice field.

Just then, Police Staff Sergeant Rhea May Baleos “attacked” them, the television crew claimed.

A video posted by cameraman Bagunas showed Baleos holding Sianosa by the collar and pushing him down the irrigation canal. The rest of the local TV crew tried to evade the police woman.

An altercation ensued, followed by several gunshots fired from a distance from unknown source which, according to the mediamen, appeared to be an intimidation tactic to scare them off.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) director Paul Gutierrez said Baleos even sought the help of other police officers as backup during the "confrontation" with mediamen.

“The actions made by elements of the Pastrana Municipal Police Office in confronting members of the press who are merely doing their job of conducting an interview is totally uncalled for, unnecessary and amounted to abuse of authority and power,” said Gutierrez.

Just doing our job

In a video he posted on social media, Tomas said, as part of their assignment coverage, they were there to interview the affected farmers. Baleos asked them to leave and grabbed Sianosa's cellphone who was recording the incident.

Tomas further said Baleos’ husband, Ver Baleos, who is also a policeman staff sargeant, allegedly pointed an M-16 at them. It was a clear threat to the mediamen who were merely doing their job.

Who owns what?

Why the police officers reacted violently towards the mediamen was a big question mark for them.

It was later uncovered that the disputed piece of land was allegedly mortgaged by an unnamed resident to the Baleoses in 2017.

What may have triggered the police officers to vent their anger on the press was because the three TV crew were interviewing the Nogals who held on to the claim as beneficiaries of land reform.

Justice will be served

Meanwhile, the Pastrana Municipal Police Station issued a statement denying that the gunshots were from their people.

Their personnel allegedly arrived on scene to pacify the commotion after Baleos called, informing their office of the "presence of armed men in the vicinity".

On arrival, the police allegedly heard the gunshots from a still unknown source, that witnessed claimed as armed with a long firearms. That was approximately 300 meters away from the police office, they said.

Authorities allegedly tried to go after them but the latter have managed to escape.

From a statement Leyte police provincial office officer in charge Lt. Col. Ricky Reli, the Baleos couple were already relieved.

According to Brig. Gen. Red Maranan, Philippine National Police spokesperson and PTFoMS representative, the PNP has shown that they will not tolerate such actions within their ranks.

Maranan also said the Baleos couple were commanded to surrender their issued firearms and be reassigned to the provincial police headquarters.

The firearms of SSg. Ver Baleos would undergo gunpowder residue examination (GRE) in connection with gunfires heard during the commotion.

“With the assurance given by P/Lt. Col. Reli, the way is clear for the satisfactory resolution of this incident. Nevertheless, it remains the right of our media colleagues involved, under the law, to pursue this matter further,” Gutierrez said.

Holding grudges?

Despite the removal of the police-couple from their previous assignment and the ongoing investigation, the three media practitioners feel far from safe.

“To date, we are starting to notice strangers riding in tandem with sling side bags roaming near our residences, motorcycle with no plate numbers,” the management of Radyo Abante -SJTV said in a statement.

It has also come to attention of the mediamen that the Baleoses will file a case against the journalists.

“(If ever) Filing of cases in court against our personnel for alleged violation of the data privacy act are underway. We will surely need every help available,” they said.

ATTACKED. Mediaman Noel Sianosa's clothes were ripped after Police Staff Sergeant Rhea May Baleos 'attacked' him and attempted to take his cellphone to prevent them from further conducting an interview. (Photo Courtesy of Gina Dean)

Lito Bagunas (Photo courtesy of Lito Bagunas FB)

Ted Tomas (Photo courtesy of Ted Tomas FB)

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