Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
Journalist receives four and a half year prison sentence for article on congressman’s alleged love affair
(CMFR/IFEX) – For failing to defend himself in court because he could not afford a lawyer, a radio broadcaster from Davao has been convicted of libel and is now serving time in jail. Davao is a province located south of Manila. Libel is a criminal offence in the Philippines. Alex Adonis, who used to be […]
Press prevented from interviewing detained politician alleged of purging communist rebels
(CMFR/IFEX) – Members of the press were prevented from interviewing detained Bayan Muna (Nation First) Representative Satur Ocampo by his police custodians, who claimed that media interviews would be risky for Ocampo, Inquirer.net reported on 21 March 2007. Ocampo and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) have protested the ban. The 67-year-old […]
“Philippine Daily Inquirer” editors, columnist post bail on arrest over another libel suit by president’s husband; “Bandera” tabloid sued over same article; suit against former solicitor general dismissed
(CMFR/IFEX) – The publisher and various editors of the “Philippine Daily Inquirer” were detained for an hour at a Manila police station on 20 March 2007, after posting a libel bond of P50,000 (approx. US$1,000). A Manila court issued had issued warrants for their arrest over a P22 million (approx. US$440,000) libel charge by Jose […]
Vehicle of critical radio station bombed, following regular threats
(CMFR/IFEX) – An unidentified individual on a motorcycle bombed the service vehicle of dxCC (828kHz), a radio station of the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), while it was parked in front of the station in Cagayan de Oro city, Misamis Oriental, on 13 March 2007, at around 2:45 a.m. (local time). Cagayan de Oro is in […]
Arrest warrants issued for five journalists, one detained overnight, over criminal libel case
(CMFR/IFEX) – Four editors, including one who was arrested and spent a night in a police station, and a staff writer of a Philippine online magazine, posted P10,500 (approx. US$210) bail bond each at the Pasig city police station on 8 March 2007 over a P100 million (approx. US$2.06 million) libel suit filed by Ilocos […]
Journalist, editors, publisher of newspaper targeted in new libel lawsuit by president’s husband
(CMFR/IFEX) – Fifty-two journalists are now facing libel charges from Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, husband of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Arroyo sued seven staff members of the “Philippine Daily Inquirer”, including the publisher and several editors, and demanded P11 million (approx US$220,000) in damages, on 20 February 2007, adding these seven to 45 others […]
Journalists being sued by president’s husband post bail after warrants issued for their arrest
(CMFR/IFEX) – Journalists Ramon, Erwin, and Raffy Tulfo posted a P10, 000 (approx. US$200) bail bond each at the Quezon City Regional Trial court branch 83 after a judge issued warrants for their arrest on 26 January 2007. Libel is a criminal offence in the Philippines. The three journalists are brothers. Raffy and Erwin are […]
Provincial governor threatens journalists with libel charges ahead of elections
(CMFR/IFEX) – Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz of Bulacan, a province north of Manila, warned journalists on 22 January 2007 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 that she would file […]