Photojournalist mistaken for protester fears for press freedom

Veteran photojournalist Bullit Marquez said police misidentified him as a protester and nearly handcuffed him while he was covering a rally in Pasay City on July 22, raising concerns over press freedom and the safety of media workers. While Marquez, who works for VERA Files, initially regarded the incident as another “hazard of the trade,” he said he was dismayed when the Pasay City Police later issued a statement misidentifying him as a protester despite his clearly visible press ID and cameras. “I cannot understand how this is plausible,” Marquez said in a statement on Saturday evening. READ: Pasay police explain confrontation with photojournalists covering rally “This incident is about more than one photojournalist being misidentified. It speaks to a larger issue: the need to recognize and protect the role of the press, especially in moments of public unrest,” he added. “Journalists are not mere bystanders. We are there to document, to inform, and to ensure that the public has an accurate record of events as they unfold.” He said his four decades in journalism—including coverage of seven Philippine presidents and major global events—should leave no doubt about his conduct as a member of the press. “When that role is blurred or dismissed, even unintentionally, it weakens the very function the press is meant to serve,” he said. Marquez said the incident began when he and fellow photojournalist Rene Dilan of The Manila Times witnessed a Muslim woman being forcibly removed from the ranks of protesters by police officers and attempted to photograph the scene. He said police then rushed toward them and blocked them from taking photos, with one officer covering his camera lens. During the brief scuffle, Marquez said his camera fell from his left arm and a policeman grabbed his hand as he tried to retrieve it in an apparent attempt to handcuff him. He said he was able to free himself with the help of fellow journalists. Marquez said the incident is a “reminder that the safety and dignity of media workers must be protected—not only for myself, but for young and future photojournalists and all media practitioners who continue this work every day.” The two photojournalists were covering a protest rally near the Philippine International Convention Center that also targeted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Manila for the Asean meetings. Protesters called on the government to reject Pax Silica, a U.S.-led alliance seeking to bolster supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. /mcm