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Alert

Suspect in broadcaster's murder arrested; mayor files libel complaints against tabloids

(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 ridicule, he claimed, by imputing to him certain criminal acts, such as the recent killing of the hard-hitting radio broadcaster Fernando Batul.

Charged with libel before the Puerto Princesa City Prosecution Office were Joey Galicia Venancio, columnist; Erny Baluyot, editor; and Edwin Alcala, circulation manager of the tabloid "Police Files Tonite"; and Joe Dalde, editor-in-chief, and Lenie Venancio, circulation manager of the tabloid "Hataw".

Less than a week after Batul's murder, the Philippine National Police claimed it had "solved" the case with the arrest of police officer Aaron Golifardo of the Palawan police force. Three witnesses identified Golifardo as Batul's killer.

The family and colleagues of Batul, however, believe that Hagedorn could be behind the broadcaster's slaying. Batul had consistently criticised Hagedorn on air.

Other allegations that Hagedorn listed in his complaint are his alleged involvement in the killing of Rev. Paul Domingo, a pastor of the United Church of the Philippines, in August 2005; the sabotage of the helicopter of Gov. Joel Reyes, causing it to crash in 2004; the killing of former mayor Dennis Socrates; and his having formed a commando army headed by a certain Tantan Anicete.

The CMFR tried to get the reactions of "Hataw" and "Police Files Tonite" editorial heads, but was unable to reach them.