The law puts journalists at risk –NUJP

During last month’s National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) National Congress, a resolution was passed urging revisions to RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, seeking the ascribed role for journalists be removed.

According to Section 21 (1), when an inventory is gathered following a drug raid, those present, wherein the law included in its specification, “representative from the media,” are required to “sign the copies of the inventory.” Subsequently, in Section 21 (4), the said member of the media would still be involved after criminal charges are filed.

With regard to the law, the resolution read, “These provisions put journalists in greater risk as they become a party to operations against illegal drugs and in prosecution of criminal complaints.”

According to newly-elected NUJP President Jaime ‘Nonoy’ Espina, the presence of media members at illegal drug raids should be limited to journalism purposes.

The resolution has since been forwarded to Congress, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, among other law enforcement bodies./WDJ