Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 66 of 76

Judge grants 60-day temporary restraining order for trial of “masterminds” in journalist’s killing

CMFR/Philippines—The Cebu City Court of Appeals issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on 25 March 2008 in the trial of the suspected masterminds in the killing of a journalist. Cebu is a province approximately 562 km south of Manila. A three-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Francisco Acosta...

High Court grants petition for transfer of venue of the trials of suspects in the killing of two journalists

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Supreme Court granted on 18 March 2008 a petition by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to transfer the venue of the trials of suspects in the killing of two Aklan-based journalists to another...

Supreme Court issues first writ of amparo for journalist

The Supreme Court granted the first writ of amparo for a journalist on 11 March 2008.

Suspect in 2004 killing of journalist surrenders as witness retracts

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The suspect in the 2004 killing of radio broadcaster Herson Hinolan surrendered on 5 March 2008 to the Kalibo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 7 in Aklan, after a key witness retracted his earlier testimony against the suspect. Aklan is approximately 345 km south of Manila. Alfredo...

Suspects behind killing of journalist elude arrest

CMFR/Philippines—Two government officials suspected to be the brains behind the killing of a journalist in 2004 have eluded arrest despite three week-old warrants for their arrest. Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 7 Judge Simeon Dumdum issued arrest warrants to the Cotabato City police on 4 February 2008 for...

News network prevented from aerial coverage of anti-Arroyo rally

CMFR/Philippines – The governmental Air Transport Office (ATO) prevented aerial news coverage by a local TV news network of one of the largest protest rallies against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on 29 February 2008. ATO declared the air space above Makati City where the rally was held a “no...

Supreme court rules that government warnings constituted prior restraint

CMFR/Philippines—The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that threatening statements from the Justice secretary and the National Telecommunications Commission warning media not to air a wiretapped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and an elections commissioner constituted “impermissible forms of prior restraints on the right to free speech and press.”...

Vice President was “just kidding” when he told bodyguard to “kill” reporter

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Philippine’s second highest government official said that he was just joking when he ordered his bodyguard to “kill” a tabloid reporter on 13 February 2008 after the latter repeatedly asked whether he was ready to assume the presidency if President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo resigns or is...

Judge denies media request to extend court order against gov’t harrasment

CMFR/Philippines – A Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge denied on 8 February 2008 a petition by journalists to extend a previously granted 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the police, the military, and other government agencies from threatening or arresting journalists and media practitioners during crisis situations....

Journalist seeks court protection against killers

An Oriental Mindoro-based journalist filed a petition for a writ of amparo before the Supreme Court on 4 February 2008 after discovering a plan to kill him, allegedly by people involved in anomalies he had exposed. Oriental Mindoro is about 140 kms south of Manila.