Quezon police chief owns up, apologizes for accreditation misstep

By Nimfa L. Estrellado QPPO's media accreditation process draws scrutiny from NUJP Quezon chapter. (QPPO) LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The ...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

QPPO's media accreditation process draws scrutiny from NUJP Quezon chapter. (QPPO)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) has admitted it made a mistake in its media accreditation process after an "urgent concern" was raised by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Quezon chapter. The issue, which stemmed from reports of questionable practices at the Lucena City Police Station (LCPS), has prompted the QPPO to apologize and commit to correcting its procedures.

In a dialogue requested by the QPPO to clarify the ongoing issue, officials from both organizations met on August 11, 2025, at Slash's Restaurant in Lucena City. The meeting included QPPO Provincial Director PCOL Romulo A. Albacea, QPPO PIO Chief PMAJ Jocelyn P. Allibang, and officers from NUJP Quezon, headed by its Chair Belinda Otordoz.



During the discussion, PD Albacea revealed that he was alerted to the questionable process after NUJP Quezon's Facebook post was flagged by Camp Crame, and he had to explain the situation to his superiors. He emphasized that he was not aware of the specific process being carried out at the LCPS, indicating a breakdown in communication within the provincial office.

PIO Chief Allibang added that the request for a permanent address from applicants was also additional information that the QPPO was unaware of. PD Albacea further explained that the form used by the LCPS was not the official document but a confidential form that was mistakenly handed to media applicants.




The LCPS later admitted it was an oversight and a mistake on their part, acknowledging that they had overlooked the forms being handed out to applicants. PD Albacea, who only learned of the form on the night of August 10, said he would have ordered its immediate discontinuation had he known earlier.

This recent dialogue follows a previous statement from the QPPO, which had initially been issued to clarify its media accreditation process. In that statement, the office claimed the initiative was a protective measure intended to verify the legitimacy of media representatives and protect the credibility of legitimate journalists.




The office had cited an “alarming increase in individuals posing as members of the media for purposes unrelated to responsible journalism.” The QPPO-PIO had also issued a general apology, acknowledging that some of its actions may have been perceived negatively.

The NUJP Quezon chapter, however, had raised an "urgent concern" about reports of “personal data collection, interrogation-style interviews, and background checks” allegedly being conducted by the QPPO and LCPS. The organization informed media practitioners that these actions were not part of the standard accreditation process and could pose risks to press freedom and personal privacy.

The NUJP had urged local media to exercise vigilance, document any irregularities, and seek clarification from appropriate authorities. They emphasized that accreditation should be a “transparent and respectful process,” not one that compromises journalistic integrity or individual rights.

PD Albacea formally apologized for what happened and to those affected by the misstep, acknowledging the negative impact it had on the media community. He assured the NUJP Quezon chapter that it would not happen again and requested that any future questionable processes be reported to him directly and immediately.

However, the QPPO's official Facebook page, which features general updates on police operations and community programs, does not contain a public statement after the dialogue with the NUJP Quezon chapter. Despite PD Albacea's request for residents to report any future questionable processes to him directly, the public is left waiting for a clear, official announcement on the corrected procedure.