“It is the responsibility of the Philippine National Police to ensure their safety as they do their job as journalists.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — One journalist was hurt and another was handcuffed while covering the violent dispersal of farmers’ barricade in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato yesterday.
Kilab Multimedia journalist Jaja Necosia was hurt when policemen threw stones during the dispersal, hitting him in the torso. Necosia was wearing his media identification card and was taking photos of the advancing police line when hit.
Meanwhile, Davao Today correspondent Danilda Fusilero was handcuffed by two policemen around 11:00 am outside the United Methodist Church. Only when Fusilero showed them her media identification card and former North Cotabato vice-governor Jose Tuburan vouched that she is a journalist did the police officers remove the handcuffs, according to a report by Davao Today.
This afternoon, journalists from 783 Radyo ni Juan were harassed by policemen deployed near the church compound where the farmers sought refuge. Policemen were singing “One Radio, one month na lang mo.” (One Radio, you’ve only got one month left.)
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condemns the harassment against its colleagues. In a statement, the NUJP said, “Fusilero and Necosia were where they should be, covering the events since March 30 until yesterday’s carnage. It is the responsibility of the Philippine National Police to ensure their safety as they do their job as journalists.”
The group called for an independent investigation of the Kidapawan carnage, including the attacks against fellow journalists. 
