Press Statement: On the integrity of news photos of victims of summary executions

Raffy Lerma summary killing June 23 Photo

Press Statement
Aug. 1, 2016

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines is compelled to issue this statement following concerns raised, mostly in anonymous social media posts, that put doubt on the integrity of news photos of victims of summary executions that appeared in newspapers and news sites in recent days.

After looking into the photographs in question and after holding conversations with some of the journalists who have been covering the night shift, we assure the public that there is no reason to doubt the truthfulness and the integrity of the photographs.

We are convinced that the photojournalists, especially those covering the police beat in Metro Manila, have been relentless in doing their job to bring out the right information that will benefit the public.

There is no truth to insinuations of manipulation of photos or staging or setting up of the scene of the crime. Those who think they know better than those who are on the scene - including the police, the first responders, and the bystanders - are only deceiving themselves.

We stand by our photojournalists.

Joe Torres
Chairman, Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines