Press Freedom Protection Archives | Page 70 of 76

Journalists post bail for libel charges filed by Arroyo spouse

CMFR/Philippines—Journalists Ramon, Erwin, and Raffy Tulfo posted a P10, 000 (US$200) bail bond each at the Quezon City Regional Trial court branch 83 after a judge issued warrants for their arrest last 26 January 2007. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines. The three journalists are brothers. Raffy...

Provincial governor warns journalists

CMFR/Philippines—Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz of Bulacan, a province north of Manila, on 22 January 2007 warned journalists that she will file libel charges against them if they report “unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation.” “Anticipating various tactics of political mudslinging pending the coming May elections dela Cruz declared...

Media lawyer and family threatened with death

CMFR/Philippines—The lawyer handling the class action suit of Filipino journalists against presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo received several threatening text messages and a phone call on 3 January 2007. Lawyer Harry Roque received a phone call at about 10 am from a certain “Jun Santos” warning him to stop...

Pampanga reporter arrested for libel

CMFR/Philippines—A reporter in Pampanga, a province 80 kilometers north of Manila, was arrested on 19 December 2006 for libel. Dante Fabian, a senior reporter for Sun.Star Pampanga, was arrested in Pulung village in Maragul district, Angeles City, Pampanga on a complaint for libel filed by Pampanga Rep. Francis “Blueboy”...

Newsbreak staff posts bail for Arroyo libel charge

CMFR/Philippines—Five journalists posted bail at the Regional Trial Court of the Manila City Hall in 14 December 2006 following the approval of the filing in court of libel charges against them by the husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The journalists were sued in connection with an article that...

Two radio broadcasters shot in Iloilo

CMFR/Philippines—Two radio journalists were injured when two unidentified men fired their guns at them on 1 December 2006 in Estancia, Iloilo, a province located about 400 kilometers south of Manila. Arnie Pullan and Butch Aclaro, broadcasters at the MBC-Radyo Natin, were on their way home after their program when...

Palawan reporter complains of threats

CMFR Philippines—A radio reporter has complained of threats by a police officer after the latter became the subject of reports of wrongdoing. Lourdes Escaros-Paet, reporter for the radio station dyPR and the weekly community nenwspaper Bandillo ng Palawan, said police officer Antonio Magbanua aired his threats over radio station...

Ilocos Norte reporter killed

CMFR/Philippines—Assailants stabbed to death a community journalist on 20 December 2006 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, a province north of Manila. Andres “Andy” Acosta, 46, news reporter for dzJC and the monthly community paper Northern Light, was on his way home from a Christmas party of reporterNOts at the Northview...

RP Still One of the Worst Press Freedom Violators

Ranking drops because of harassment, killings RP Still One of the Worst Press Freedom Violators The Philippines is still one of the worst press freedom violators in the world, according to an annual report released recently by the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiéres (RSF). RSF’s 2006 World Press Freedom Index,...

Media in the Philippines and Thailand: States of Emergency and the Press

Media in the Philippines and Thailand States of Emergency and the Press By Roby Alampay BANGKOK—On Feb. 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo placed the Philippines under a state of national emergency, claiming that her government had uncovered yet another plot to topple her administration. Invoking a newly-minted presidential...