Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 22 of 76

Philippines Ranked 138th in 2016 World Press Freedom Index

THE PHILIPPINES remains among countries with “very difficult” press situations in the world, according to the 2016 World Press Freedom Index released by the Paris-based group Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF- Reporters Without Borders) on April 20, 2016. Annually published since 2002, the index “reflects the intensity of the attacks...

Mayoralty Candidate Sues Journalists for Libel

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A candidate for mayor of Dapa, Surigao Del Norte has filed libel charges against several local journalists over a report on her supposed “swindling” of the residents of a barangay (village) in Surigao del Norte province. Surigao del Norte is approximately 1146 kilometers South of Manila....

Batangas Court Acquits Suspect in 2009 Broadcaster Killing

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A court in Batangas acquitted a police officer accused of killing a lawyer-broadcaster in 2009. The decision was promulgated 14 April 2016. Lipa City Regional Trial Court Branch 85 Judge Wilfredo Castillo acquitted and ordered the release of police officer Darwin Quimoyog who was accused...

Journalists Harassed in Kidapawan City

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Several journalists reported being harassed while covering the dispersal of the picket of farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on 1 April 2016. The farmers were rallying to demand from the local government relief subsidies due to poor harvests because of prolonged drought. Kidapawan City is...

Former Gov’s Aide Convicted in Ortega Case

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Puerto Princesa City court convicted of murder last 7 March 2016 one of the suspects in the killing of broadcaster and environmentalist Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega in 2011. Branch 52 Judge Angelo Arizala of the Regional Trial Court of Puerto Princesa City sentenced Arturo “Nonoy” Regalado...

Radio Broadcaster Convicted of Libel, Radio Station Ordered to Close in Gingoog City

CMFR/ Philippines- A radio blocktimer was convicted of libel while a local radio station was ordered to stop operations in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. Misamis Oriental is 1389 kilometers south of Metro Manila. Investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation in Northern Mindanao arrested on 20 February 2016 a local broadcaster...

Radio Reporter Shot Dead in Zamboanga del Sur; First Journalist Killed in 2016

CMFR/Philippines – An unidentified assailant shot dead a radio broadcaster inside his house in Purok Bagong Silang, Poblacion, Zamboanga del Sur on February 16. Zamboanga del Sur is 1156 kilometers south of Manila. Broadcaster Elvis Ordaniza of the Pagadian City-based dxWO Power 99 FM was preparing dinner at about...

Government TV Reporter Harassed in NAPC Event

CMFR/Philippines – A reporter for a state-owned television network complained that he was prevented from reentering the venue of an event organized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) last February 17 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City. He was also “verbally...

Criminal Libel Suits Against Journalists

A journalist was convicted of libel and another arrested in the Philippines on the same charge in less than two months. But two other libel cases against media workers were dismissed during the same period. Libel is still a criminal offense in the Philippines despite calls for its decriminalization....

In the Philippines: Three Journalists Were Killed for Their Work in 2015

THE CENTER for Media Freedom and Responsibility takes exception to the statement in the 2015 Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) report on the killing of journalists worldwide that no journalists in the Philippines were killed for a work-related reason last year.