MisOc PNP conducts media personal security measures

OZAMIZ CITY--Police Provincial Office the first ever seminar workshop on the safety and security of journalists and media personalities in Misamis Occidental held in Ozamiz City recently.

Police superintendent Gervacio Balmaceda, Ozamiz City chief of police, welcomed the participants citing the importance of the activity which aims to strengthen the coordination between the Philippine National Police and the media in the city and even in the province.

A briefing on provincial situation updates regarding media killings was presented by P/Ssupt. Robert Quenery, provincial director, in which he highlighted the present situation in the province. He likewise presented statistics on media killing incidents as well as the campaign of the Taskforce Usig and security measures being implemented in Misamis Occidental.

He added that in the national level Taskforce Usig highlights 39 cases as work related and 85% were solved.

Quenery said he decided the seminar in Ozamiz City because majority of the media practitioners are coming from the city.

Police Superintendent Wilbur Salaguste, provincial intelligence officer tackled personal security measures for media practitioners. He also gave advice and guidance on how to deal with assassination attempts and any related cases regarding media safety.

Salaguste also assured to distribute handbook on personal security measure for journalists as soon as the copies are available from the PNP central office.
As per report, the PNP has published 3,000 copies of a handbook on personal security measures for journalists.

The handbook’s chapters include: How journalists are assessed as a target; Threat detection and threat assessment; Surveillance detection; Vehicle and travel security; Children's security; Threats sent by telephone and SMS; Mail and postal bombs and Fire safety.
The PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) developed the handbook.
Fifteen media practitioners attended the half day seminar.(NEPTALIE BATOLENIO)