TACLOBAN CITY — Journalists in Eastern Visayas have expressed alarm over the alleged surveillance activities being conducted by the Philippine National Police regional office on reporters who are seeking recognition to cover the agency.

The Association of Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders Inc. said in a statement that such police surveillance and confidential investigations is "unfair and uncalled-for" as it breaches data privacy.

It added that the investigation on the private lives of the journalists is "disturbing and threatening" as this is only done in the region.

"Let us clarify though that, firstly, we respect the state's imperative direction to ensure national security and secondly, the police mandate to maintain public safety. However, while any personal data gathering is not prohibited absolutely, any police surveillance or CIs into journalists is already an exaggeration in basic data collection, which borders now on violation of the law, and personal rights," the group said.

The confidential investigation on journalists came into light after a radio station manager prompted her colleagues from other media outlets about unknown policemen stealthily asking her neighbors about her and her family.