The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and K5 News FM have sounded the alarm over recent surveillance incidents targeting journalists in Leyte and Negros Occidental, warning that such acts threaten press freedom and the safety of media workers.
NUJP called out the May 28 incident in Carigara, Leyte, where an unknown individual photographed four journalists — Alfredo Padernos and Ted Allen Tomas of Radyo Abante-San Juanico TV, Jazmin Bonifacio of Rappler, and April Dawn Ayaso of News5 — while they were covering a news story.
The images later surfaced in a private group chat of local media practitioners.
“These are not isolated photos. This is surveillance — and that is unacceptable,” NUJP said.
The union said journalists should never turn their lenses against each other.
“We remind colleagues of the data privacy implications of taking and sharing photos without consent. At the very least, journalists should not be conducting surveillance on fellow media workers,” NUJP said.
Meanwhile, in Negros
Just days earlier, on May 24, Eric Tenerife, a commentator of K5 News FM, became the subject of an alleged suspicious activity in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
According to K5 News FM’s official statement, four unidentified men surveilled Tenerife’s home and asked about his whereabouts at a nearby café.
“Around 8:00 a.m., two men on a motorcycle were seen taking photos of Sir Eric’s residence,” the station reported. It added that witnesses also said the same individuals made inquiries about him in the community.
K5 News FM immediately alerted the Hinoba-an Police and Mayor Daph Reliquias, who both assured the station that they are treating the incident with urgency and will conduct a full investigation.
“We strongly condemn this attempted intimidation,” K5 News FM said. “We stand firmly with Sir Eric and his right to report and speak without fear.”
NUJP urged journalists across the country to report similar threats and not dismiss signs of surveillance. The group emphasized that every documented case can help build pressure for accountability and protection.
The union also encouraged media workers to consult the Philippine Journalists’ Safety Guide, a practical tool for journalists working in volatile conditions.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.