Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 19 of 76

Kidapawan Broadcaster Arrested for Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A radio manager and broadcaster in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato has been arrested and detained on two libel cases filed by a mayor of Makilala town also in North Cotabato. North Cotabato is 1,591 kilometers south of Manila. Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group...

Radio Reporter Receives Death Threats

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A radio reporter said he received death threats via mobile phone 7 September 2016 about a week after reporting being threatened by tourist policeman in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Lapu-Lapu City is 845 kilometers south of Manila. DySS Super Radyo (RGMA) reporter Norman Mendoza said he received...

Inquirer Ordered to Pay for Enrile Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES—An August 22 decision by the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered the Philippine Daily Inquirer to pay former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile P1.3 million in damages for a 2001 news article alleging that Enrile was among those who plundered the coco levy fund. A ruling by the Makati...

Ortega Murder Suspect Denied Bail

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A primary suspect in the 2011 murder of Palawan environmentalist and broadcaster Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega was denied bail Thursday, 8 September 2016 by a Puerto Princesa court. Palawan is 789 kilometers south of Manila. Judge Angelo Arizala of the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 52...

Former Mayor Convicted for 2004 Killing of Broadcaster

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Cebu City court convicted of homicide on 10 August 2016 a former mayor of the municipality of Lezo in Aklan accused of killing broadcaster Herson Hinolan in 2004. Aklan is approximately 461 kilometers south of Manila. Branch 16 Judge Sylva Aguirre-Paderanga of the Regional Trial...

Journalist Says He was Threatened by Regional PIA Director

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A Butuan-based journalist said he was threatened by a Regional Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director following an altercation between the two on 24 July 2016. Butuan City is 1,208 kilometers south of Manila. Ben Serrano reported to CMFR allegedly continuous threats from PIA Caraga Regional Director...

PDEA Agents Harass TV Reporter

Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 6 allegedly harassed a reporter from a state-run television channel while she was covering a drug buy-bust operation on July 26 in Iloilo City. Iloilo City is 660 kilometers south of Manila. Rena Manubag Dago-on of IBC TV 13 was...

PCIJ Websites Attacked

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Manila-based Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported an attack on its websites — www.pcij.org and www.pcij.org/blog. CMFR confirmed the incident with PCIJ executive director Malou Mangahas. PCIJ on its Facebook page said “A phrase with explicit curse and threat has been written by the...

Blocktimer Survives Ambush

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Two weeks after two men on a motorcycle wounded a broadcaster and his 12-year old son in Surigao City on 30 June 2016, a Surigao del Sur blocktimer survived a slay attempt by unidentified men who fired at his vehicle on July 14 in Bislig City,...

Censorship by the Gun

First published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Talk of the Town on July 10, 2016 IN RESPONSE to a question raised during one of his press conferences in June about the killing of journalists, then President-elect Rodrigo Duterte echoed a recurring narrative in the public mind: the belief...