MindanaoToday.com | Empowering media: Police bridges info access in law enforcement reporting
By: Jessa M. Cleopas
MALAYBALAY CITY – To unveil new perspectives in collaboration, the Police Regional Office in Region 10 (PRO-10) has embarked on a pioneering quest, amplifying the influence of media professionals.
Gathering at Camp Alagar in Cagayan de Oro, journalists and media practitioners were immersed in an insightful orientation seminar on December 27, focusing on the nuances and impacts of Memorandum Circulars (MC) 053 and 037.
Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug Jr., Northern Mindanao police regional director who led the orientation, said that understanding these memoranda would prepare participants to handle issues involving Police Blotter and Crime Information Reporting Analysis System (CIRAS) data access.
“Diving into the seminar’s core, the initial phase dissected PNP Memorandum Circular 2020-037, simplifying the intricacies of information access on the police blotter. The session clarified the procedures and protocols journalists must follow to request and procure essential police data,” he said.
Untangling the maze
Police Major Glenn Abalde from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) of PRO-10 explained that MC 037 untangles the maze surrounding the journalists’ data accessibility.
“While the blotter is accessible to anyone, including students, media personnel are encouraged to coordinate with the police records section. Although the police blotter is a public document, consent from the records officer of the day is necessary for media access,” he said.
Abalde, however, made clear that media personnel can access the CIRAS via an online platform without requiring police consent.
Recognizing that the CIRAS system contains rigorously verified data that the public acknowledges, Abalde confirmed media entities’ free access to this police-cleared information repository, eliminating the need for separate police authorization.
Highlighting the critical partnership between law enforcement and the media, PRO-10 delved into PNP MC No. 2023-053, the Revised Media Relations Policy.
Its mission is to forge a seamless partnership between the police and media by offering clear communication and information exchange guidelines.
It also intends to ensure the efficient flow of accurate, pertinent information, empowering journalists and law enforcement officers in their roles.
Reflecting on the seminar’s significance, the regional police director stressed that adherence to legal protocols and ethical standards is non-negotiable.
The seminar focused solely on providing journalists with the requisite tools and knowledge to navigate the complexities of accessing critical law enforcement details while adhering to stringent data privacy and ethical frameworks.
Laying out its vision, he said police officers and media practitioners violating the law could face administrative cases under NAPOLCOM MC 2016-002 and Republic Act 6713. This stern caution reinforces the significance of responsible conduct within their professional arenas. (JMCleopas/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
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