Media Defense

We will not surrender our freedoms

Today, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.

Covering the Pandemic

Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic

The Silent Media

Native Advertising: Not just a Problem of One

Case against Mike Arroyo to continue

Now that the legal impediments have been resolved with finality, the 36 journalists and three media organizations that filed a P12.5 million class suit against the husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can expect the case to proceed. Lawyer Harry Roque told CMFR In a 28 May 2010 interview that...

Transfer of venue of case against alleged masterminds in Esperat murder granted

CMFR/PHILIPPINES-The venue of the case against the alleged masterminds in the killing of Sultan Kudarat-based journalist Marlene Esperat has been transferred to Makati City with the Philippine Supreme Court’s grant of a petition for the change. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) received a copy of the...

Incoherent

Cheers and Jeers to GMA-7’s Case Unclosed June 4 episode, “Danyos”, which looked into how the government has failed to indemnify the victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime. Cheers for selecting a topic that, despite its significance, has been relegated to the background in the discussion...

Nograles, the press freedom advocate?

A staunch Arroyo ally at the House of Representatives has filed a bill proposing for the abolition of the penalty of imprisonment for libel but increasing the fines for the offense. According to Rep. Prospero Nograles (Lakas, 1st Dist., Davao City), author of House Bill 2802 , the proposed...

A statement from journalists who have filed a class suit against the president’s husband, Mike Arroyo

In view of Jose Miguel Arroyo’s announcement that he intends to withdraw all the libel suits he has brought against journalists (46 in all), the question is raised whether we might respond by withdrawing our own class suit against him. As it happens, this is not a case of...

Resistance is the best defense against arbitrary power

Statement of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility on Mike Arroyo’s withdrawal of his libel suits against 46 journalistsWorld Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2007 The decision of presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo to withdraw the 11 libel suits he had filed against 46 journalists is a...

Presidential spouse Mike Arroyo drops all libel suits

Presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo ordered his lawyers to withdraw all the libel suits he had filed against Filipino journalists as a “gesture of peace” on 3 May 2007. Read by press secretary Ignacio Bunye in a media briefing in Malacañang, Arroyo’s announcement coincided with the celebration of...

Newspaper editors and publisher post bail for libel

The publisher, along with seven editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the Philippines’ major dailies, was detained for an hour at a Manila Police Station on 20 March 2007 after posting a libel bond of P50,000 (approx. $1,000). A Manila court issued had issued warrants for their...

Five journalists post bail; editor released after a night in jail

Four editors, including one who was arrested and spent a night in a police station, and a staff writer of a Philippine online magazine, posted P10, 500 ($210) bail bond each at the Pasig city police station on 8 March 2007 over a P100 million ($20,000) libel suit filed...

President’s husband files another libel charge (UPDATED)

Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, husband of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sued seven staff members of the Manila-based broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, including the publisher and several editors, and demanded P11 million ($220, 000) in damages last 20 February 2007. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines. The...

Press Freedom Protection

Attacks and threats against the media

Press Freedom

Ampatuan Trial Watch

Legislation

Freedom of Information

Libel Watch

Cybercrime

International Day to End Impunity in the Philippines

Media Ethics and Responsibility

Journalism Review

Excellence and Best Practices in Journalism

Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar