Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 60 of 76

CONCRETE ACTION NEEDED TO STOP THE KILLINGS: An Open Letter to President Benigno Aquino III

AS THE NATION takes its annual Holy Week retreat, the advocates for justice for slain journalists and press freedom protection recall their hopes in your assumption to power and your promise for renewal and change. You campaigned not only on a promise to fight corruption, but also to uphold...

Libel complaint against journalists dismissed

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A provincial prosecutor dismissed last 18 January 2011 a libel complaint filed by a government employee against a columnist and the editors of a local newspaper in Catanduanes. Catanduanes is an island province approximately 580 kilometers south of Manila. The libel complaint filed by Rommel Valeza, a...

Alleged gunman in the 2006 murder of Palawan radioman acquitted

CMFR/PHILIPPINES –A court in Palawan acquitted a former police officer accused of killing a broadcaster in 2006. The decision was promulgated 11 April 2011. In a decision dated 8 April 2011, Palawan Regional Trial Court Branch 95 Judge Bienvenido Blancaflor acquitted and ordered the release of former policeman Aaron...

Broadcaster shot dead in Philippine Capital

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Exactly on the sixth anniversary of the killing of a woman journalist in 2005, another woman broadcaster was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Malabon City last 24 March 2011. In 2005 on the same date, journalist Marlene Esperat was killed at her home in Tacurong...

Reporter arrested on libel charge

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A correspondent of a Mindanao-based newspaper was arrested on libel charges last 04 March 2011 at his home in Indahag village, Cagayan de Oro City. Cagayan de Oro City is approximately 789 kilometers south of Manila. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines. Edgardo “Ed” Maliza,...

Anti-drugs agent threatens television news team

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) angered by media criticism of the agency allegedly threatened a television news team which was covering the arrest of a drug trafficking suspect last 1 March 2011 in General Santos City. General Santos City is a chartered city...

(Updated) Councilor’s spouse allegedly threatened a broadcaster

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A broadcaster was allegedly threatened by a local councilor’s spouse in Oas, Albay last 21 February 2011. The spouse however denied the allegation. Oas, Albay is approximately 307 kilometers southeast of Manila. Armand Reyes of radio station dwCL 93.1 Skyradio based in Ligao City said he was...

Building up People Power: the role of the alternative press

Coverage of the 25th anniversary of the Philippine People Power events focus on the chain of events from February 21 and the takeover of government by Corazon Aquino. But the story really goes back to the years of protest undertaken by freedom fighters, many of whom remain nameless. The...

Tarlac-based journalists received death threats over corruption stories

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Three journalists said they received death threats after reporting alleged corruption in the construction of an expressway in Tarlac. Tarlac is a province approximately 107 kilometers from Manila. In a letter to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines last 9 February 2011, George Hubierna, Nelson...

Justice delayed

Statement of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) on the 15th month since the Ampatuan Massacre of November 23, 2009 THE TRIAL of those formally accused in the Ampatuan Massacre, numbering 51 out of the 195 individuals suspected of involvement in it, is ongoing and should be...