Reports of crime incidents or events in Cavite’s 20 towns and three cities would have to undergo scrutiny at the Police Provincial Office (PPO) before they can be released to the media.

The PPO restricted the media from browsing reports of crimes and the journal of police activities and accomplishments unless watched by the public information officer (PIO) or any designated officer.

The procedure was implemented by Senior Supt. Alfred S. Corpuz, PPO director, Supt. Michael B. Secillano, Operations Branch chief, and Chief Inspector Milagros, the PIO only this month.

In a memorandum dated Oct. 26, 2009, Secillano ordered the personnel of the Operations Branch and Tactical Operation Center (TOC), the monitoring unit and message receiving office of the CPPO, to refrain from issuing “press releases” or any news details to any members of the media whether on a visit or through telephone call.

In the memorandum, Secillano specified that the relaying of information to the media is “strictly prohibited.”

The source of information of the public through the years are the Operations Branch and TOC as the offices which receive and keep information materials everyday.

Corpuz earlier denied he has a hand on the memorandum but he asked the media to comply with the move.

Under the procedure, reports of crime incidents received by the TOC would have to pass for scrutiny to the Operations Branch office then to the PPO Investigation Unit and the office of the provincial director.

The PIO releases the reports only to the media once Secillano’s office and Corpuz have approved the papers.

The reports released by the PIO to the media are usually delayed by a day or two. If a crime incident happened today, the media can read the report only the following day or the day after.