Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

(CMFR/IFEX) – A Manila-based photojournalist was slain on the morning of 31 July 2006, in Malabon City, just north of Manila. Based on initial police reports, Dick Melendrez, a photojournalist working for the Manila-based tabloid “Tanod” (“Guardian”), was murdered just before 9 a.m. (local time) in front of his house in a neighbourhood of Malabon […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – A mayor recently filed libel complaints against two editors, a columnist, and the circulation managers of two tabloid newspapers. Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn alleged that the tabloids published columns and articles that were malicious, defamatory, and damaging to his name and reputation. The articles exposed him to public hatred, contempt and […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – Embattled former president Joseph Estrada is set to file a Php 30 million (approx: US$580,000) libel suit against a Manila-based national daily and two individuals for accusing him of involvement in a money-laundering operation. According to Rufus Rodriguez, Estrada’s legal counsel, the former president will sue “Manila Standard Today” for publishing a series […]

(CMFR/IFEX) ? Within two days after the incident, police apprehended three suspects in the 18 July 2006 killing of broadcaster Armando Pace in Digos City, Davao del Sur, around 680 kilometers south of Manila. On 19 July, the police nabbed suspect Juan Jesus Sataum, a money lender whose motorcycle was allegedly used by Pace’s killer, […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – The following is a statement by Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ), of which CMFR is a member: Primer on the Marlene Esperat case trial Prepared by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ), June 23, 2006 Who is Marlene Esperat? Marlene Esperat was a columnist for Sultan Kudarat paper The […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – Two peace advocates, also working as part-time journalists, were gunned down by unidentified men around 5 p.m. (local time) on 19 June 2006 in Kidapawan City, approximately 850 kilometres south of Manila. George Vigo, a contributor to the Union of Catholic Asian News, and his wife, Maricel Alave-Vigo, host of dxND Radio for […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – A local correspondent for an international magazine has been put on the government’s watch list to oblige her cooperation in providing information on an alleged coup plot against the president in February 2006. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate “Time” magazine correspondent Nelly Sindayen, […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – Barely a month after a receiving death threat, a hard-hitting radio commentator was shot dead on 22 May 2006 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan province, 586 kilometers south of Manila. Fernando “Dong” Batul, a radio journalist working for Palawan-based radio station dyPR, was killed in the early morning by two unidentified gunmen, who shot […]