JUSTICE SECRETARY'S BAN ON PHOTOGRAPHERS IRRATIONAL --PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is acting IRRESPONSIBLY and beyond the norms for public servants when he issued an absurd order banning members of the Press Photographers of the Philippines from the premises of the Department of Justice specifically to cover his press conferences and other activities.

As reported by some television networks, Gonzalez imposed the ban in retaliation for a PPP manifesto criticizing the justice secretary for issuing an "advisory" reminding reporters, photographers and media organizations that they could be held legally liable if they refuse to leave the premises of a conflict situation.

The advisory was issued in anticipation of possible troubles or crisis that may break out during the Jan. 22 protest-rally of farmers from various parts of the country to commemorate the massacre of 13 peasants at the historic Mendiola bridge, the gateway to Malacañang, in 1987.

"Secretary Gonzalez is entitled to his inanities. He is now acting like an ersatz dictator ensconced in his little office who believes he has total power to do with media as he sees fit," Pimentel said.

"In any case, if he succeeds in banning media from his press conferences, it may be good for the people as it will spare them from reading about or hearing of his puerile antics."

Members of the media were reminded by Gonzalez that they would be interfering in legitimate military and police operations if they defy the order to leave the areas that are declared off-limits to them.

Pimentel said it sounds irrational and incomprehensible that members of the media would be banned from covering such extraordinary events when that is part of their function of reporting to the people.

He said the situation is made worse by the warning of law enforcement authorities that they will have to use force if the journalists ignore the prohibition order.

This means they will be forcibly ejected from the site of the events, handcuffed and detained just like what happened during the Nov. 29 standoff at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.