Police urged: Respect media’s right to report

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran photojournalist Bullit Marquez has said his experience while covering a rally in Pasay City on July 22 is a reminder of the need to protect media workers and uphold press freedom.

Marquez, who is with VERA Files, was nearly arrested by the police, who tried to stop him and another colleague from taking pictures of people protesting against Pax Silica, a US-led alliance seeking to bolster supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

While he initially regarded the incident as another “hazard of the trade,” Marquez said he was dismayed when the Pasay City police later issued a statement misidentifying him as a protester despite the fact that he was wearing his press ID and carrying cameras.

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“I cannot understand how this is plausible,” he said in a statement on Saturday evening.

Larger issue

“This incident is about more than one photojournalist being misidentified. It speaks to a larger issue: the need to recognize and protect the role of the press, especially in moments of public unrest,” Marquez added.

“Journalists are not mere bystanders. We are there to document, to inform and to ensure that the public has an accurate record of events as they unfold,” he added.

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According to Marquez, his four decades in journalism—including coverage of seven Philippine presidents and major global events—should leave no doubt about his conduct as a member of the press.

“When that role is blurred or dismissed, even unintentionally, it weakens the very function the press is meant to serve,” he said.

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Marquez said the incident began when he and fellow photojournalist Rene Dilan of The Manila Times witnessed a Muslim woman being forcibly removed from the ranks of protesters by police officers.

He said the police tried to stop them from taking photos of the scene, with one officer covering his camera lens.

During a brief scuffle, Marquez said his camera fell to the ground. As he tried to retrieve it, a policeman grabbed his hand in an apparent attempt to handcuff him. Marquez, however, said he was able to free himself with the help of other journalists.

In a statement by VERA Files, it said that ABS-CBN News Online photojournalist Maria Tan saw the incident and shouted at the police: “They are photographers. They are media. Don’t arrest them.”

Marquez said the incident is a “reminder that the safety and dignity of media workers must be protected—not only for myself, but for young and future photojournalists and all media practitioners who continue this work every day.” /cb