CAMP Olivas, Pampanga --  The Camp Olivas Press Society (COPS) yesterday assailed the manhandling of one of its officers by agents of National Bureau of Investigation who raided a bar at the red light district of Angeles City on Friday night.

COPS president Rudy J. Abular appealled to President Benigno Aquino to look into the “gestapo-like” manner of NBI agents who manhandled and harrassed Bernard Galang, COPS business manager and correspondent of People’s Journal in Pampanga and Angeles City.

“Galang was merely doing his job as a journalist and he should not be treated as such,” Abular said.

Last Friday, while covering the NBI raid at Stampede Bar on Don Juico Avenue in Bgy. Balibago, Galang was grabbed by NBI agents after seeing him taking pictures of the raid.

The NBI agents then herded Galang into the vehicle then took his camera. After erasing the pictures of the raid the camera was returned to him.

Upon reaching the Friendship Highway in Villasol, they pulled over and told Galang to step out of the vehicle and left him there.

In a manifesto, the COPS also asked the National Press Club to condemn the actions of NBI agents against Galang.

For his part, NBI Central Luzon Director Ricardo Diaz apologize in behalf of his men. He said he was sorry for what happened because his men doesn’t know Galang.

“Kahit na hindi siya kilala ng mga NBI agents pero sinabi na ni Bernard na siya ay isang reporter ng Philippine Journalists, Inc. publisher ng People’s Journal at People’s Tonight,” Abular said.

He said NBI agents did not even show courtesy given to the members of the fourth estate and allowed Galang to show his press card before they took him.