US troops bar local journalists from TV coverage; Embassy downplays ‘order’ By Michaela P. del Callar 12/22/2010

US troops bar local journalists from TV coverage; Embassy downplays ‘order’

By Michaela P. del Callar 12/22/2010

The US Embassy on Tuesday downplayed reports that American soldiers ordered local reporters in Zamboanga City to stop taking footage of the visit of Visiting Forces Agreement Executive Director Edilberto Adan inside a Philippine military camp last Monday.

Wossie Mazengia, acting embassy spokesman, said the soldiers merely “requested verification” on the status of the members of the media.

Reports said the reporters were shabbily treated by six American military personnel guarding the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) office inside the West Mindanao Command (Westmincom) headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mazengia also said journalists were not barred from covering the event. She said they were allowed access inside the camp and even spoke with Adan and JSOTF-P head Robert Gusentine..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101222hed4.html