The Bicol Police Regional Office described the arrest of a reporter in Iriga City, Camarines Sur as 'a very, very isolated case.'
The Iriga City Police Station apprehended reporter Jose Rizal Pajares last August 2 for unauthorized access to the police blotter.
"This is the first time in history na naka-encounter din ako actually ng kaso na ganito," PLtCol Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Bicol Police Regional Office, said on Thursday, August 10, during Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
Calubaquib said that she already received a report from PLtCol Ralph Jason Oida, Iriga City Police chief, regarding the incident.
The police official said that Pajares violated a provision of Republic Act 10173, also known as the Data Privacy Act, by opening the police blotter.
Calubaquib also stressed that the police blotter still needed to undergo verification.
"Ayaw din natin yung mga reporters natin is ma-kuryente. Kung hindi naman validated yung report or verified ng mga pulis natin yung nasa blotter, mag-mukhang fake news yung balita ninyo," she explained.
In an earlier press release, the Iriga City Police Station stressed that the police blotter, while a public document, contains confidential information, including the details of accused individuals, and complainants.
"Ipinagbabawal ng (Data Privacy Act) ang pagsisiwalat ng anumang personal na impormasyon nang walang pahintulot ng paksa ng data ng impormasyon," the station said.
"Ang karapatan ng akusado na ituring na inosente ay malalabag kung ang naturang dokumento o impormasyon ay madaling makuha ng hindi "non-real party interest", tulad ng media kung saan ang kontrol sa pagpapakalat nito ay hindi na magagawa kung nailabas na," the station added.
