Journalists who covered the 16-day standoff at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City experienced verbal abuse, threats, and harassment from its members, the Mindanao Institute of Journalism’s news service arm said in an official statement.
According to MindaNews, reporters who covered the raid at the KOJC compound noted efforts at propagating disinformation on social media, and the insistence of organization members for journalists to report on only their version of the incidents.
“We experienced being bullied or cajoled and used by one party of the conflict to outsmart another. We documented these incidents of harassments and even went to the police for the blotter,” the collective statement read.
Based on the statement, media personnel were able to ascertain the source of disinformation, pointing to interest groups who “wanted to control the narrative.”
“It is not our role to carry your propaganda line or push your own agenda. Our role is to deliver timely, relevant, accurate information to the public, information that will allow them to take part meaningfully as citizens in a functioning democracy,” it clarified.
The group also called out First District Councilor Bonz Andre Militar, who they claim knows the sources of disinformation, related to his role as chair of the Committee on Information and Technology.
“Let us in the media do our job and if you truly care about the public good, it would do well for the City Council to help foster an environment where journalists can perform their duties without the constant threat of intimidation, harassment, or other forms of attacks.”
