Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
Publisher threatened after exposing suspicious government contract
(CMFR/IFEX) – A local newspaper publisher has reportedly received threats after exposing a local government project involving an “anomalous” contractor in Tacloban City, located 360 miles southeast of Manila. According to “The Tacloban Star” publisher Nestor Abrematea, he received a phone call on the night of 4 February 2006 while he was in Manila. He […]
Grenades found inside radio journalist’s home
(CMFR/IFEX) – A hard-hitting commentator and his family escaped certain death when two live grenades failed to explode inside their residence in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 586 kilometers south of Manila, on 24 April 2006. Fernando “Dong” Batul is a commentator for Palawan-based dyPR radio station. Together with his sister, he found the first grenade […]
Radio journalist shot, in critical condition
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 6 May 2006, a local radio announcer was shot by unidentified men in Naga City, located 377 kilometers south of Manila. Paul Manaog, president of the Camarines Sur Capitol Press Association and a radio journalist for local radio station dwLL, was shot at five times and hit thrice while walking with his […]
Armed Forces restrict media access to their general headquarters
(CMFR/IFEX) – Barely 24 hours before the annual World Press Freedom Day began on 3 May 2006, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released a memorandum imposing restrictions on reporters’ access to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. In an order announced by AFP-Public Information Office Chief Col. Tristan Kison, only […]
Media organizations and journalists condemn investigation of critical television programme, urge citizens to defend press freedom
(CMFR/IFEX) – The following is a 2 May 2006 joint statement by CMFR and several other organizations: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, a group of concerned media organizations and journalists in the Philippines, led by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, wrote a statement regarding the increasing government intervention […]
Congress approves bill on protecting sources for online news
(CMFR/IFEX) – In an effort to strengthen press freedom, the House of Representatives has passed a bill that would include journalists in the broadcast industry, wire agencies and Internet publications among those who are exempted from revealing the identities of confidential news and information sources. House Bill (HB) 4835 seeks to extend the coverage of […]
Newspaper editor, columnists ask Justice Department to dismiss “inciting to sedition” charges filed by police
(CMFR/IFEX) – An editor-publisher, charged last month with inciting to sedition, has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the case against her and two other columnists. Ninez Cacho-Olivares, editor-in-chief and publisher of “The Daily Tribune”, and two other columnists of the same newspaper asked the DOJ on 10 April 2006 to dismiss the […]
Court seeks government response to petition denouncing official acts of press harassment and censorship
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 7 April 2006, the Court of Appeals (CA) asked the Executive Department to answer the petition, submitted by a group of media organizations and journalists, questioning the government’s actions against press freedom. In a resolution written by Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, the appellate court gave the government 10 days to reply to […]