GMA News reporter Mark Makalalad took to social media to share his disturbing experience after doing a live report.
On Facebook, Makalalad posted his experience on Thursday, June 25 after doing a live report for GMA News TV on Marcos Highway in Marikina.
According to him, a group of four policemen approached him after he went live and reprimand him for not getting clearance or permission from them before he did the live reporting.
They asked me, “Sir, media ka ba? Patingin ng ID mo?”
I answered, “Sir, nasa mobile po nag-live report kasi ako kaya hinubad ko muna” (nakapark lang kami near the checkpoint)
They said, “Dapat po nagpaalam kayo sa amin na mag-la-live po kayo.”
Makalalad then explained that he’s been doing live reports in different areas and that was the first time that he was approached by the police who wanted coordination before airing.
I explained, “Araw-araw po ako nag-l-live report sa iba’t ibang lugar, ngayon lang ako nakirinig na kailangan magpaalam sa pulis kapag magl-live. Bago po ba yang utos kasi lilinawin ko yan sa JTF-Covid Shield.”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3729701343713736&set=p.3729701343713736&type=3
“Hindi naman po sir, pero kailangan nyo po ng coordination kasi vinideohan nyo po kami.”
“So, pinakita ko yung cellphone ko and I showed them na hindi ko sila vinideohan. Isa pa, ang selfie live ko ang background ay traffic, hindi sila. I felt bad kasi napagbintangan ako.
“Ito ang argument ko, kunwari ordinary citizen lang ako at naglalalakad at nagvivideo, kunwari, vlogger, kailangan ko rin bang magpaalam sa kanila?” Makalalad continued.
But what’s disturbing the most about his experience according to the GMA News reporter is when the police told him the reason why they approached him.
“Sumagot yung isang pulis, baka kasi sir “kalaban ka,” Makalalad shared.
However, Makalalad said the incident ended up peacefully and he also reached out to the JTF-Covid Shield to know if there are new regulations about live reporting and he said, there is none.
“I asked JTF-Covid shield Commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar if there’s an existing directive as such. According to him ‘walang ganyang instruction, Mark’
“IN CONTEXT: Quarantine pass is no longer required in GCQ areas. Permission to seek clearance from police to do live report is NEVER an option.”
Meanwhile, after his post, several journalists have shared their sentiments on his experience.
GMA reporter Mark Makalalad does a live report in what’s clearly a public area. Police approach him telling him he needed prior coordination, and then one of the cops finally says…
“BAKA KASI KALABAN KA.”
Wala pang anti-terror law nyan. Is the fear of abuse unfounded? pic.twitter.com/bsMi38svjG
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) June 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/jpsoriano/status/1276114121704894464
What the heck
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) June 25, 2020
