The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed grave concern over the reported harassment of three television journalists last July 14 by a couple who are both police officers of Pastrana town in Leyte. The incident was caught live on video by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). Quoting the NUJP, the CHR said that a plainclothes policewoman, identified as Rhea Mae Baleos – married to police staff sergeant Ver Baleos -- confronted San Juanito TV journalists Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa and Ted Tomas. The video showed that Rhea Mae aggressively pushed one of the journalists who was taking videos of a land dispute in Barangay Jones in Pastrana town. Also, the video showed that Rhea Mae grabbed Sianosa’s mobile phone. Minutes later, gunshots were heard which was also recorded on video. The NUJP said that one of the journalists “saw policemen in uniform firing the shots." The CHR said that based on reports, PBrigGen. Vincent Calanoga, regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas, had ordered an investigation.  Calanoga had also relieved the Baleos couple of their duty and had ordered the turnover of their firearms. It acknowledged the “fast response” by the PNP on the incident, including a probe on policemen who responded. "We hope that their assurance of an unbiased inquiry and accountability of those found responsible of committing a grave misconduct,” the CHR said. “We also call for protection for the journalists involved as well as efforts to ensure media safety in the area," it said. "We equally note the Presidential Task Force on Media Security or PTFoMS' immediate denouncement of the reported actions of the police," it added. To prevent more acts of media harassment in the future, the CHR said it is crucial for the government to convey "unequivocal condemnation" of such acts of intimidation and harassment. "Acts of aggression and harassment against the media impedes the exercise of press freedom, which include the right to gather and disseminate information without interference. Such acts also undermine the fundamental right to security of person, which encompasses protection from physical harm, threats, and intimidation as set forth in the Article III, Section II of the Constitution and the Article III of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the CHR stressed. At the same time, the CHR reminded all policemen that they should adhere strictly to the PNP Operational Procedures, which provide ample guidelines in the performance of police duties to prevent any form of abuse of authority.