Cuevas orders probe of Jaro cops on duty
The Philippine National Police is investigating the manhandling of a female television reporter inside the Jaro police station in Iloilo City.
Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas, Western Visayas police director, said he has ordered an investigation on policemen assigned at the Jaro District police station where GMA reporter Charlene Belvis was manhandled early Monday morning.
"Why did they take no action?" Cuevas said in a telephone interview.
Video footages showed Belvis being slapped by Andrea Gorriceta just outside the police station. Minutes later while inside the station, Gorriceta pulled Belvis by her hair and dragged her briefly in front of policemen.
Belvis suffered minor injuries because of the attack.
The reporter and her crew had taken footages of Gorriceta and her car after she sped away after she bumped into a woman at a bar and restaurant. This infuriated Gorriceta who had repeatedly asked the crew not to take video footages.
Cuevas said policemen at the station were apparently caught by surprise when Gorriceta attacked Belvis.
"They said there was no indication that she would hit the reporter. She just suddenly approached Charlene," said Cuevas.
The Illoilo chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines had earlier condemned the attack and also called for an investigation on how the incident happened inside the police station.
GMA Network has filed criminal complaints against Gorriceta for grave oral defamation, slander by deeds and physical injuries.
She, however, posted bail late Monday afternoon, according to Cuevas.