Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
Local radio station faces possible suspension after mayor’s accusation
(CMFR/IFEX) – A local FM radio station in Kabacan, Cotabato, around 1,100 kilometers south of Manila, faces suspension after the mayor accused it of operating illegally. In her complaint to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), dated 31 March 2006, Kabacan Mayor Luzviminda Tan claimed that 101.7 Hot FM, owned by the Manila Broadcasting Company, illegally […]
Justice department removes controversial prosecutor from editor’s murder case
(CMFR/IFEX) – The prosecutor handling the case of slain editor-publisher Philip Agustin recently was relieved by the Department of Justice (DOJ). In a resolution dated 17 March 2006, the DOJ ordered the formation of a new investigating panel composed of three other state prosecutors to replace Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, who was charged with […]
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism faces additional libel suits
(CMFR/IFEX) – The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) received notice of yet another complaint from a controversial audio technician, who this time, filed five libel suits against the organization on 27 March 2006 in Quezon City. In his latest complaint against PCIJ, engineer Jonathan Tiongco said he “is being harassed by PCIJ,” referring to […]
Local mayor threatens closure of Mindanao radio station, utters death threat to anchorman
(CMFR/IFEX) – Accused of slandering the local government, a radio station was threatened by a town mayor on 5 April 2006 in Valencia City, Bukidnon, approximately 830 kilometers south of Manila. In his order, dated 28 March, Valencia City Mayor Jose Galario directed Radio Mindanao’s (RMN) local radio station dxVR to stop “airing commercial broadcasts […]
Tarclac City newspaper journalist shot to death
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 2 April 2006, a community journalist was gunned down by unidentified men on his way home in Tarlac City, located approximately 110 kilometers north of Manila. Orlando Mendoza, a columnist who wrote for several local newspapers, was ambushed by the armed men while on his way home, and sustained fatal wounds in […]
Court dismisses case against suspect in journalist’s murder
(CMFR/IFEX) – In an unfortunate turn of events, a local court recently dismissed the murder charge filed against the alleged individual behind the 17 June 2004 killing of journalist Elpidio Binoya in General Santos City, located about 700 kilometers south of Manila. In his six-page decision dated 6 March 2006, Judge Oscar Noel of the […]
Press restrictions continue despite “lifting” of state of emergency; media, journalists petition court to restrain government
(CMFR/IFEX) – In an attempt to hold back the Arroyo Administration’s recent efforts to suppress press freedom in the country, different media organizations and journalists recently joined forces to file a petition in the Court of Appeals (CA) to prohibit “executive-branch officials from censoring the media.” In a complaint dated 8 March 2006, the petitioners […]
Journalists no longer allowed to video-tape San Pablo city council meetings
(CMFR/IFEX) – In a move echoing the national government’s suppression of the media, the city council barred video-taping of its meetings and sessions in San Pablo, Laguna, located around 75 kilometers south of Manila. In a resolution dated 21 February 2006, the San Pablo City Council, headed by Vice-mayor Lauro Vidal, banned “video taping inside […]