ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the Angeles City Police Office released a composite sketch on Monday late afternoon of one of the persons of interest (POIs) in the recent harassment and intimidation of two lady reporters in this city.

The composite sketch of the POI was released during a case conference at the Conference Hall of Camp Lt. Tomas J. Pepito in Angeles City which was also attended by Rowena Quejada of K5 News FM and Joan Manabat of Rappler, the two media reporters who were harassed and threatened with guns during a demolition operation on residential houses in Barangay Anunas in this city.

The investigating team has identified the POI as a certain alias Mico.

Atty. Hue Jyro Go, PTFoMS chief of staff, said that they are hoping the investigation will be completed by this coming Friday and cases against the respondents filed.

On the other hand, Angeles City Prosecutor Oliver Garcia said they will invite alias Mico, whose real name and address is still being verified, to shed light on the incident.

Grave threats, grave coercion, robbery with intimidation of a person, and illegal possession of firearms are the charges that can be filed against those responsible for the intimidation and harassment against the two journalists, Garcia added.

The POI was positively identified by Quejada as one of the suspects that pointed a gun at her and one of those who took her camera, valuables and wallet that contained cash and several identification cards.

On the other hand, Manabat was not able to identify any one of her several harassers because she claimed all of them have masks on their faces.

As these developed, Col. Amado Mendoza Jr., City police director of Angeles, said that the police “stands firm in its dedication to ensuring the safety of media practitioners and upholding their constitutional right to freedom of expression. We will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those responsible for any acts of harassment or violence against journalists.”

📷: Mon Lazaro