Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
CMFR statement on the arrest of media personnel covering Peninsula Hotel incident
(CMFR/IFEX) – The following is a CMFR press release: Statement of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility on the Arrest of Members of the Media Covering the Peninsula Hotel Incident Never in the turbulent recent history of the Philippines has any government, including that of Ferdinand Marcos, ever taken into custody members of the […]
Eyewitness in journalist’s killing prevented from testifying in court
(CMFR/IFEX) – A crucial eyewitness in a journalist’s killing was prevented from testifying in court on the strength of an arrest warrant served by the police for a cock-fighting offense allegedly committed by the witness in 1998. Ferdinand Bayles, an eyewitness in the 22 May 2006 murder of Fernando “Dong” Batul in Aklan, was arrested […]
Suspect arrested in 2001 killing of provincial journalist
(CMFR/IFEX) – One of the two suspects in the 2001 killing of Aklan journalist Rolando Ureta was arrested at 7:45 a.m. (local time) in front of the municipal hall in Numancia, Aklan on 27 November 2007. Aklan is a province approximately 345 km south of Manila. Amador Raz was arrested by officers of the Aklan […]
Politician, his wife and daughter assault radio journalist in broadcast booth
(CMFR/IFEX) – A radio journalist claimed that he was attacked in his broadcast booth by a local politician, his wife and their daughter on 24 October 2007 in Compostela Valley. The broadcaster was on air at the time. Compostela Valley is a province approximately 900 kilometres south of Manila. Roel Sembrano said he was in […]
Two radio broadcasters escape ambush
(CMFR/IFEX) – A gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle shot at two “block time” radio broadcasters after they emerged from their radio station on 25 October 2007 in Digos, Davao del Sur, a province approximately 680 kilometres south of Manila. The Philippines had its baranggay (village) elections on 29 October. “Block timing” is a widespread […]
Suspects charged with attempted murder of radio broadcaster
(CMFR/IFEX) – Charges of attempted murder have been filed against two suspects in the 8 October 2007 shooting of radio journalist Jose Cagalawan Pantoja in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, a province in southern Philippines. With at least five witnesses, the Iligan City police filed the charges at the prosecutor’s office a day after Pantoja, […]
Reporter pressured by Senate to reveal sources
(CMFR/IFEX) – A committee of the Philippine Senate has summoned a national daily reporter in connection with her investigation into a leak in the proceedings of an executive session held on 26 September 2007. The Senate ethics committee wants Juliet Labog Javellana of the Manila broadsheet “Philippine Daily Inquirer” to reveal her sources for a […]
Newspaper columnist receives death threat following her criticism of government
(CMFR/IFEX) – A newspaper columnist critical of the Arroyo government has received a death threat via email warning her that her criticism of the regime may cost her life. Ellen Tordesillas, who writes for the daily newspaper “Malaya” and the daily tabloid “Abante”, found the emailed death threat when she checked her inbox on 30 […]