“We will no longer pretend partnership exists under the present leadership” – Cordillera PNP Press Corps dissolves after being repeatedly excluded from key Police events

Baguio City, Philippines – The Cordillera Philippine National Police Press Corps (CPNPC) has formally announced the dissolution of its current officers, citing deliberate exclusion from official events and declaring that it can no longer maintain a partnership that, they claim, no longer exists.

The CPNPC is composed of journalists who specialize in covering police activities. Unlike general reporters, its members focus exclusively on police events and often attend official briefings and proceedings. While they are not police personnel, their work is structured and sometimes involves formal roles within the corps.

In a statement posted by a local media outlet on March 3, the corps outlined its reasons, claiming members were consistently excluded from official police events, forcing them to rely on independent sources to report critical developments.

“We were never formally invited to cover key activities, forcing our members to rely on their own initiative and sources to fulfill their duty to inform the public,” the statement read.

The rift reportedly began when Regional Director Police Brigadier General Ericson D. Dilag was absent during the induction of CPNPC officers following the election on May 30, 2025, at the Philippine Information Agency–Cordillera, Baguio City.

The situation escalated during a press conference at Camp Dangwa on February 20, 2026, where no member of the media group was invited, prompting the decision to dissolve the leadership.

“…It confirmed what we had long suspected—that the Cordillera PNP Press Corps has been deliberately sidelined. Not a single member of our organization was invited. This act of exclusion is not only disrespectful but undermines the very principles of transparency and accountability that the police institution claims to uphold,” the statement read.

The CPNPC emphasized that the dissolution is a principled decision rather than a sign of weakness. The members expressed hope that future officials will recognize the press corps’ role in fostering transparency, cooperation, and accountability.

“We refuse to maintain the appearance of a partnership that, under the present leadership, clearly does not exist. We take this step not out of weakness, but as a statement of principle. We remain hopeful that future leadership within PRO-CAR will recognize the indispensable role of a free, independent, and respected media in strengthening public trust, ensuring accountability, and upholding democratic values.”