Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
Two individuals arrested in connection with burning of ABS-CBN van
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two alleged members of a communist rebel group were recently arrested by police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with an attack on an outside broadcast (OB) van owned by network giant ABS-CBN. The NBI presented the two suspects, Jongkol Francisco and Teodoro Fuentes, who are believed to be members […]
Four newspaper employees charged with libel
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 25 January 2005, a controversial pearl farm, Jewelmer International Corporation, launched a libel complaint against four employees of the “Bandillo ng Palawan” community weekly, based on an island in Palawan province, western Philippines. The libel complaint is linked to a series of articles published in 2004 about allegations of human rights violations […]
Journalists receive death threats
(CMFR/IFEX) – A number of local media practitioners have expressed fear for their lives after receiving death threats. According to a report by “The Philippine Star” newspaper, the threats are reportedly in connection with the journalists’ exposés of illegal drug activities in some provinces of Cagayan Valley, northern Philippines. Lito Salatan, president of the Isabela […]
Columnist sentenced to 28 years in prison in libel case
(CMFR/IFEX) – A tabloid columnist has been sentenced to 28 years in prison after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court found him guilty of 14 counts of libel on 1 March 2005. Raffy Tulfo, a hard-hitting journalist who writes a column titled “Shoot to Kill” for the evening daily “Abante Tonite”, was also ordered to […]
Journalist killed
(CMFR/IFEX) – On the night of 28 February 2005, community newspaper columnist Arnulfo Villanueva was gunned down in Naic, Cavite, just south of Manila, according to a report by “The Philippine Star”. He is the first journalist to be killed in the Philippines in 2005. Villanueva, 43, a columnist for “Asian Star Express Balita”, was […]
Two journalists targeted in separate incidents
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 8 February 2005, veteran tabloid columnist Pablo Hernandez was stabbed inside a billiard hall in Quezon City by an individual suspected to have been hired by local high-ranking police officers. Hernandez, 41, a writer for the tabloid “Bulgar”, sustained two stab wounds in the back and was immediately rushed to Capitol Medical […]
Tabloid reporter attacked in Manila
(CMFR/IFEX) – A tabloid reporter was assaulted and robbed by two suspected illegal drug users in Tondo, Manila, on 26 January 2005, according to the local evening paper “People’s Journal Tonight”. German Roque, a reporter for the local daily tabloid “Hataw”, sustained scratches on the right ear, forehead, and all over his body. Reports indicated […]
Key witness in case of murdered journalist Edgar Damalerio gunned down
(CMFR/IFEX) – A key witness in the celebrated murder case of slain Filipino journalist Edgar Damalerio was gunned down on the morning of 2 February 2005 while leaving his place of work in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur. Edgar Amoro, 46, a teacher at the Zamboanga del Sur National High School and the witness who positively […]