Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 17 of 76

A Step Backward in the Campaign to End Impunity

AS THE world observes International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, the press community in the Philippines carves out a more extended period to recall the shame and scandal of the violence against journalists in the country. On November 23, the 8th anniversary...

Vice Mayor of Surigao del Norte Town Assaults Newspaper Editor

THE VICE mayor of Dapa in Surigao del Norte physically attacked a community newspaper editor in the town of Pilar on September 23. Surigao del Norte is 1,155 kilometers south of Manila. Edito Mapayo, editor in chief of Diaryo Balita, was covering an event by the Department of...

Online Threats against Journalists Continue: TV Reporter Receives Hateful Threat

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A GMA News reporter received a malicious threat online on September 19 after covering Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s trip to Singapore in an effort to counter President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegation that the senator kept offshore bank accounts. The case was among the many online threats against...

Radio Broadcaster Survives Shooting Attack in Legazpi City

CMFR/PHILIPPINES — A local radio broadcaster survived attack on Thursday, 24 August 2017 in Legazpi City, Albay. Legazpi City is 339 kilometers south of Manila. Carlos Sasis, a village council member and host of the commentary and public affairs program Dos Manos, was parking his car in front...

Libel Cases: Three Journalists Charged, One Case Dismissed, News Team Posts Bail

LEGAL TUSSLES in one week involved several journalists. Three newsmen were charged with libel. A libel case was dismissed. And a news team posted bail to avoid arrest in the Philippines for libel. Libel is still a criminal offense in the Philippines despite calls for its decriminalization. In...

Tabloid Columnist Wounded in Batangas Shooting

CMFR/ PHILIPPINES – A lone gunman shot and wounded a columnist of a Manila-based tabloid and his driver in Batangas City on August 9, 2017; two days after motorcycle riding men killed columnist, Leo Diaz, in Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. Batangas is 83 kilometers south of Manila. Crisenciano “Cris”...

Volunteer Broadcaster Shot Dead in Zamboanga del Sur

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Unidentified men on a motorcycle gunned down a volunteer radio broadcaster in the town of Molave in Zamboanga del Sur province on 6 August 2017. Zamboanga del Sur is 1168 kilometers south of Manila. Rudy Alicaway, the victim, anchored the entertainment program “Tigmo Tigmo” (Riddle) on...

Tabloid Columnist Gunned Down in Sultan Kudarat

CMFR/PHILIPPINES — Two men riding a motorcycle shot dead a columnist in the municipality of President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat province on 7 August 2017. The killing happened while Mindanao is under martial law. Sultan Kudarat is 1703 kilometers south of Manila. The victim, Leo Diaz, wrote a column...

Radio Commentator Survives Slay Attempt

CMFR/PHILIPPINES — Unidentified assailants shot and wounded a radio commentator in Marihatag town, Surigao del Sur on 26 July 2017. Surigao del Sur is 1,296 kilometers south of Manila. DxJB FM’s owner-operator Julito “Paka-paka” Orillaneda was getting off a tricycle in front of his house in Barangay Poblacion when...

Dumaguete Radioman Acquitted of Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A local radio anchor was acquitted on charges of two counts of libel on 30 June 2017 in Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, 639.56 kilometers south of Manila. Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo filed libel charges against dyMD Energy FM anchor Cornelio...