Attacks and threats against the media Archives - CMFR

Court acquits Rappler’s Maria Ressa of tax evasion

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on 18 January 2023 cleared Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa of all four tax evasion charges filed against her and her news organization.

Editor red-tagged by SMNI propagandists

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Ronalyn Olea, managing editor of Bulatlat, was red-tagged and called an “operatibong internet operator” for the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) in SMNI’s Laban Kasama ang Bayan. Olea is also the Secretary-General of the National Union...

Media barred from coverage in Negros Occidental

CMFR/ PHILIPPINES – Journalists were denied entry to an evacuation center in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on 13 October 2022. The media were there to cover the situation of residents displaced by the ongoing encounter between the Philippine Army and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Two journalists receive online threats

CMFR/Philippines — TV5 broadcasters Ed Lingao and Lourd de Veyra received death threats online on 4 October 2022, a day after the murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid in Las Piñas.

Broadcaster mauled outside radio station in Iloilo City

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Four men in hoods and facemasks beat and injured a broadcaster outside a radio station in La Paz, Iloilo City on 8 October 2022. Iloilo City is 655 kilometers south of Manila.

Radio commentator shot dead in Las Piñas

CMFR/PHILIPPINES — Two unidentified men shot and killed a veteran radio commentator on 3 October 2022 in Las Piñas, Metro Manila.

Baguio journo red-tagged in online post

CMFR/PHILIPPINES - Sherwin De Vera, managing editor of Northern Dispatch, was red-tagged in a Facebook post on August 12. FB user Allen Dondon uploaded photos of De Vera with former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary, Judy Taguiwalo and former Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, with a...

SEC affirms decision to revoke Rappler’s corporate registration

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affirmed its 2018 decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of the social news site Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) in an order dated 28 June 2022. According to Rappler, this affirmation “effectively confirmed the shutdown” of the news organization.

NTC blocks alternative media websites

On June 6, 2022, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., National Security Council (NSC) Advisor and Anti-Terrorism Council Vice Chairperson, wrote to the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) ordering “Philippine Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the following websites affiliated to and are supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations.” A copy of...

Rappler journalist shoved during Uniteam rally

TWO OF Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s campaign staffers prevented Rappler reporter Lian Buan from interviewing Marcos Jr. at a campaign rally.