17 October 2006

Alert

Arrest warrants issued for newspaper publisher, staff


Incident details

Amado Macasaet, Enrique Romualdez, Joy de los Reyes, Ma. Teresa Molina, Minnie Advincula, Ellen Tordesillas, JP Lopez, Regina Bengco, Francisco Tatad

legal action
(CMFR/IFEX) - Acting on libel suits filed by Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on 16 October 2006 a Manila court issued arrest warrants against the publisher and several of the staff members, including a former senator, of the national newspaper "Malaya".

In a resolution released early on 16 October, Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 26, ordered the arrest of publisher Amado Macasaet; editors Enrique Romualdez, Joy de los Reyes, Ma. Teresa Molina, and Minnie Advincula; reporters Ellen Tordesillas, JP Lopez and Regina Bengco; and columnist Francisco Tatad.

Bail of P10,000 (approx. US$200) for each of the accused was paid, according to Tordesillas, who was reinstated as a respondent after being dropped earlier in the case.

Arroyo's complaint stemmed from a 19 May 2004 column written by Tatad, a former senator, accusing the presidential spouse of manipulating the 2004 presidential elections for his wife, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "Malaya" also published portions of Tatad's columns in its news reports in May 2006.

Malaya's stories alleged that First Gentleman Arroyo, with the help of military personnel and government officials, bought certificates of canvass throughout the country, especially in Mindanao. In his libel complaint, Arroyo denied the allegation and insisted that he was in Manila at the time of the elections.

In recent months, Arroyo has filed at least 10 libel suits against 43 journalists. Philippine media organisations deplored the filing of the cases, saying these were aimed at creating a "chilling effect" on the press.

Arroyo is seeking a total of P70 million (approx. US$1.4 million) in moral damages through the libel suits.

More than 600 journalists and 30 local and foreign media organisations, including CMFR, have supported a joint petition drafted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines calling for the decriminalization of libel in the country.

This alert was prepared with reports from http://www.GMANews.tv



Source:

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
2/F Ateneo Professional Schools - Salcedo
130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
Makati City 1227
Philippines
staff (@) cmfr-phil.org
Phone: +632 8400903
Fax: +632 8400889
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Updates to this story

Presidential spouse's withdrawal of libel suits against 46 journalists a triumph for press freedom, proves resistance best defence, says CMFR 3 May 2007 Presidential spouse "Mike" Arroyo drops all libel suits against journalists 3 May 2007

More on this case

Journalists demand repeal of libel law following multiple lawsuits from president's husband 29 September 2006

Philippines

TV news crew allegedly threatened by village councillor 6 February 2012 Publisher threatened after condemning colleague's murder 19 January 2012 Arson attack on radio station; journalist gets death threat 16 January 2012 Journalists, media workers harassed in Manila demolition 12 January 2012 Tragic start to 2012 as media worker is murdered 6 January 2012 See all alerts: Philippines


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.