Media Release: Philippines
04 September 2013
The
International Federation of Journalists is concerned about a spate of assaults
on press freedom by political and business figures in the Philippines in recent
weeks. IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, has
reported a series of incidents including the conviction of a columnist in a libel
case filed by a politician, libel suits against journalists uncovering a
businesswoman’s alleged involvement in a multi-billion peso corruption scandal
and journalists being barred by police from covering the elections of a
regional political group.
Libel
remains a criminal offence under Filipino law despite the UN Human Rights
Council's view that it violates freedom of expression. The 80-year old Revised
Penal Code can impose prison sentences for libel.
Last week
the Cebu Regional Trial Court found Leo Lastimosa, columnist for The Freeman and radio-television broadcaster for sister stations dyAB and ABS CBN-Cebu,
guilty of libel over a 2007 about former Provincial Governor and now
Representative Gwendolyn Garcia. Lastimosa was ordered to pay Garcia damages
amounting to P2,000,000.00, (USD 44,000) and a fine of P6000 (USD 135).
Lastimosa faces imprisonment if he cannot pay. Lastimosa says the comments in
the article in question did not relate to Garcia.
Last month
lawyers for businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles filed four libel complaints against
five journalists, a newspaper publisher, a blogger, a legal consultant and a
fashion designer. The charges were filed against Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Gil Cabacungan, managing editor Jose Maria Nolasco, editor-in-chief
Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, and publisher Raul Pangalangan. Also charged were
Rappler.com reporter Natasya Gutierrez; National Press Club legal consultant
and blogger Berteni "Toto" Causing; and fashion designer Eduardo
Baddeo.
Napoles has
in hiding since figuring in an alleged corruption in an alleged P10
billion-peso (USD 224 million) scandal. Between July 12 and 17, the Philippine
Daily Inquirer released a six-part investigative report detailing the
alleged misuse of P10 billion worth of Priority Development Assistance Funds
(PDAF) by a syndicate led by Napoles. Rappler.com also reported on the alleged
lavish lifestyle of Napoles' daughter Jeane and on a property in her name in
Los Angeles.
NUJP reports
that police in Catanduanes, in the Bicol Region of Luzon, barred journalists
from covering the elections of the local branch of the Philippine Councilors
League (PCL). Ramil Soliveres, the NUJP’s Catanduanes chairperson, said
reporters were prevented from entering the Provincial Capitol Dome, where the
provincial PCL elections were being held, on orders from PCL chapter president
Juan Velchez. Velchez is understood to have instructed Arnaldo Escober, the
provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), to prohibit the media from covering the elections.
The IFJ is
deeply concerned at the methods used by powerful interests to effectively
bludgeon the Filipino media and prevent them from reporting legitimate news in
the public interest. “There is a constant pattern in the Philippines where the
wealthy and the powerful seek to misuse both the law and the authorities in
attempts to prevent legitimate scrutiny of their activities.
“At the very
least we have seen numerous examples where the wealthy and the powerful simply
bar the media from reporting of what should be open and transparent activities
such as elections. Alternatively, these powerful self-interests misuse the law
to silence or punish the media for carrying out legitimate investigations into
corruption and misbehaviour. At worst, powerful interests use intimidation,
harassment, violence and murder to prevent a story getting out or to kill the
journalists who are doing their duty by upholding the public’s right to know,”
the IFJ said.
“The culture
of impunity in the Philippines, that fails to protect the media, that fails to
bring to justice the guilty, allows the unscrupulous to escape scrutiny and
undermines democracy. The IFJ calls on the administration of President Aquino
to remove libel from the criminal statutes; fully investigate the allegations
of corruption; ensure the entire political process is open, transparent and
subject to legitimate scrutiny; and bring to justice those responsible for the
harassment and murder of our journalist colleagues.”
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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