The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday condemned the Quezon City Police District’s alleged use of violence against a reporter covering a farmer-led protest at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office on Tuesday, calling for an investigation and accountability for the officers involved.
The reporter was identified as Ernest Cruz of alternative media outlet Bulatlat, who was among several media workers covering the protest when police allegedly used force to restrain him despite his identification as a member of the press.
A video shared by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines showed Cruz displaying his press identification card and shouting, “Taga-media ako” (I’m from the media), as police officers attempted to restrain him.
The NUJP Media Safety Office said Cruz was among several journalists covering the demonstration.
Campus journalist and Tudla correspondent Robie Matias, a student of Far Eastern University, was also injured after being caught in a standoff between protesters and police, according to the NUJP.
In a comment on a video posted by Matanglawin Ateneo, Matias said police officers deliberately stepped on him.
The NUJP said the incidents reflected a continuing pattern of alleged police violence and harassment against journalists covering protests.
“This is not the first time the Philippine National Police (PNP) has resorted to violence in dealing with members of the media,” it noted
It cited incidents during the Sept. 21, 2025 anti-corruption demonstrations, when journalists reported being assaulted, obstructed and exposed to tear gas while covering police operations.
The union also cited the issuance of a subpoena by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) student journalist Jacob Baluyot following the September 2025 protests. Police officers reportedly also visited Baluyot’s home, although he maintained that he had attended the demonstration in his capacity as a journalist.
The NUJP further recalled an incident on July 22, 2026, when police attempted to arrest photojournalists Bullit Marquez and Rene Dilan while they were covering a protest in Pasay City.
“How many more journalists must be harassed or hurt before the police are held accountable?” the NUJP said.
The organization pointed to the Philippine National Police’s Revised Media Relations Policy, which recognizes the media’s role in upholding the public’s right to information.
It also cited an October 2025 agreement between the National Police Commission and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security that explicitly prohibits the use of force against media workers and provides mechanisms for investigating complaints against police personnel.
The NUJP urged authorities to enforce these safeguards in Cruz’s case, hold the officers “involved be held accountable, and that the PNP ensure journalists can cover protests without fear of violence or obstruction.“
“We also join media colleagues in calling on the Commission on Human Rights to launch investigations into this incident and help hold press freedom violators accountable, “ the NUJP said.
The union likewise reminded the PNP and the National Police Commission of their commitments under the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which calls for measures to protect journalists and allow them to work safely and freely.
“Police should stop harassing journalists,” the NUJP said.
Meanwhile, the QCPD said that at least 10 police officers sustained injuries while performing their duties during the gathering outside the DAR on Monday.
Authorities said its personnel had carried out their duties with maximum tolerance, fairness and impartiality.
The QCPD said it recognized and respected the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression under the Constitution and Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985.
It added that it remained committed to the principle of maximum tolerance, adherence to the law and respect for human rights in its operations.
