Dumaguete City police chief, Supt. James Goforth, yesterday denied allegations that some Mass Communication students of Silliman University were given the cold shoulder when they requested for a video interview of a theft suspect recently.

He said the students were allowed access to the police blotter and were accommodated by his men when they visited the station last week.

Goforth admitted he did not approve the request of the students for an interview, citing security reasons for the students, and protecting the rights of the suspect who is innocent until proven guilty.

He said he cannot allow the interview of the suspect outside the detention cell as it is against the law to present any suspect to the media.

He said it is also dangerous for the students to go inside the detention cells as there were other suspects there and he did not want to put the students at risk. He also said the students were also not allowed to take footages of the interior of the police station for security reasons.

The students were required by their teacher, John DX Lapid, to interview the suspect for their television subject. They claimed Goforth asked for a letter to substantiate their request for a video interview.

Lapid, a media practitioner, said he does not believe the excuses of Goforth as his students were able to record on video their conversation with him.*JFP

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