Re-published Editorial in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR with friendly permission of the Publisher Marietta Siongco - May 25, 2013
As early as 7 a.m. last Wednesday, several Davao City journalists trooped to the burning Department of Psychiatry of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), also referred as the Mental Hospital in Davao City, for coverage. It was certainly a newsworthy incident, not least because the facility is 95 years old and is the only public mental hospital in Mindanao. However, it also turned out to be a most unfortunate for two photo journalists and a television cameraman who were blatantly harassed by hospital personnel as they were performing their jobs.
The hospital men, including a nurse, doctor, clinical Lebbe, and a security guard heaped verbal and physical assault on the three journalists yelling at them, grabbing their cameras and holding their arms as they ordered them to forcibly delete all the photos and videos they took.
Aside from undermining the right of freedom of expression and editorial independence of the journalists, the hospital men deliberately deprived the journalists of respect as persons of self-esteem and pride.
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The basic value of respect was obviously not of importance for the ill-mannered hospital men as as well as Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega quickly apologizing for his men's behavior. Journalism is regulated solely by the criteria of professional ethics, a basic journalism, a basic journalism principle that makes the journalists undeserving of such harassment. Those who elbow their way into the journalists' rights should be slapped with appropriate administrative and legal and sanctions.
