(CMFR/IFEX) – Barely 24 hours before the annual World Press Freedom Day began on 3 May 2006, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released a memorandum imposing restrictions on reporters’ access to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. In an order announced by AFP-Public Information Office Chief Col. Tristan Kison, only […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – Barely 24 hours before the annual World Press Freedom Day began on 3 May 2006, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released a memorandum imposing restrictions on reporters’ access to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
In an order announced by AFP-Public Information Office Chief Col. Tristan Kison, only media representatives with accredited Public Information Office-Defense Press Corps (PIO-DPC) identification cards will be allowed inside the camp on days when there are no scheduled press conferences or media advisories.
“All areas inside the camp, other than the immediate vicinity of the DPC, PIO-AFP, or the (headquarter’s) grandstand area, are off limits to media,” said Kison.
The one-page memorandum was issued 20 April, the same day the Supreme Court rejected Executive Order 464. According to the High Court, the said order – which prevented Cabinet and line agency officials from attending congressional inquiries without President Arroyo’s consent – is unconstitutional.
AFP claimed that the memorandum was released after the Labor Day tensions on 1 May to reduce the alert level status (which had been raised for fear of possible terrorist attacks during the holiday) in Metro Manila.
According to Kison, it is mandatory for journalists, particularly military beat reporters, to proceed directly to the PIO-DPC upon authorized entry into the camp.
Prior to this, Camp Aguinaldo issued identification cards to the media on a yearly basis. Reporters who wanted to enter the camp needed only to show their media identification cards.
With the new memo, reporters are required to obtain a written authorization and a copy of the media advisory from the PIO, and to be accompanied by PIO personnel.
Those who fail to follow the requirements will be promptly ushered by the Military Police back to the PIO.
Officers and members of the DPC have expressed disdain for this latest form of muzzling of the media by the military.
“This is a blatant curtailment of access to information,” said Joy Cantos, former DPC president and current DPC vice president for print media.
Cantos pointed out that the PIO should have conducted a dialogue with the other members of the corps before pushing through the order. “I know our limitations when it comes to access to information, but going to the extent of seeking clearance from the PIO, that’s absurd,” Cantos said.
