Description
Three reporters from San Juanico TV were interviewing farmers in Barangay Jones, Pastrana, Leyte at around 9:30 a.m., July 14, when a woman, later identified as police officer Rhea Mae Baleos, stopped them, telling them to go away.
Reporters Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa and Ted Tomas were covering a land dispute in the said barangay. Baleos reportedly grabbed Sianosa's cellphone while the latter was taking videos, and pushed him away. A few minutes later, the three journalists heard gunshots. Tomas said he saw policemen in uniform firing the shots.
"Wag kayong magpapaputok. Mga media kami." (Don't fire. We are from the media) Tomas shouted.
According to initial information, the farmers are beneficiaries of land reform program.
Information
Number of attacked persons or entities related to media
3
Do they work as freelance or media?
Yes
Position in media
Status of journalists
Gender
Data not collected
Country
Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
Full name or name of group
Identified
The name of perpetrator (individual/group)
Staff Sargeant Rhea Mae Baleos
Background (state actor or non state actor)
Gender
Attack mention about gender background/sexual wording?
No
Date of incident
Type of incident
Physical assaults (include death, injury, abduction)
Please type the data source here (Link)