(CMFR/IFEX) – On 25 January 2005, a controversial pearl farm, Jewelmer International Corporation, launched a libel complaint against four employees of the “Bandillo ng Palawan” community weekly, based on an island in Palawan province, western Philippines. The libel complaint is linked to a series of articles published in 2004 about allegations of human rights violations […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 25 January 2005, a controversial pearl farm, Jewelmer International Corporation, launched a libel complaint against four employees of the “Bandillo ng Palawan” community weekly, based on an island in Palawan province, western Philippines. The libel complaint is linked to a series of articles published in 2004 about allegations of human rights violations in the area.
Jewelmer launched the complaint against the weekly’s editor, Jofelle Tesorio, reporter Rowena Par, administrative assistant Maryjoy Tagle and editorial director Yasmin Arquiza for allegedly accusing the company of kidnapping and detaining a Pala’wan leader, assaulting several individuals, violating human rights and issuing threats. The company claims the weekly intended to “destroy [its] reputation.”
In particular, Jewelmer cited an article entitled, “Isyu sa Bugsuk Tumindi sa Paghuli ng Lider Pala’wan” (“Bugsuk issue worsens with the kidnapping of a Pala’wan leader”), published in the 25-31 October 2004 issue of “Bandillo ng Palawan”.
The complaint also cited two other articles published in November that reported on the grievances of coastal communities, located in the vicinity of Bugsuk, against the company.
During the preliminary investigation at the office of the prosecutor in charge of the case, the company presented Pala’wan leader Siven Ading and his wife to attest to the veracity of a statement that the company did not forcibly take Ading from Pandanan to Puerto Princesa.
In its reply, “Bandillo ng Palawan” staff maintained that none of its reports were malicious and all the articles were based on interviews with credible and senior government officials, as well as narratives from victims of human rights violations.
