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By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Reporter
The international community has
ranked the Philippines as one of the most dangerous places in the
world for newsmen with some 48 media personalities assassinated
since President Arroyo assumed office in 2004.
But another ever-present danger
to those in the media is libel, as it remains to be the biggest
threat to practicing journalists and press freedom in the country.
In Manila alone, recent records
show that the Manila court has 21 counts of libel filed against
veteran journalists, among them a publisher and a columnist.
Documents from the Warrant and
Subpoena Section of the Manila Police Department identified the
newsmen as Philippine Daily Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot,
Editor in Chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, Managing Editor Jose Maria
No-lasco, Associate Editors Abe-lardo Ulanday and Rosario Garcellano,
news editor Arte-mio Engracia, opinion editor Jorge Aruta, national
editor Pergentino Bandayrel Jr., senior desk editor Juan Sarmiento,
and columnist Ramon Tulfo; Cebu Daily News Publisher Eileen Mangubat,
columnists Beting Laygo Dolor, Lito Bautista, Arlene Burgos, Jimmy
Alcan-tara and Raymond Rivera; Pilipino Star Publisher Miguel
Belmonte, Editor in Chief Alfonso Pedroche and reporter Ellen
Fernando.
The warrants of arrest were
issued against the 21 media men in connection with the libel suit
filed by the President’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, which
stemmed from Tulfo’s Inquirer column on January 14, 2006, about
the alleged smuggling of siblings Vicky and Tom Toh in the Bureau of
Customs. Activities that Tulfo claimed were condoned and protected
by Mr. Arroyo.
The libel complaint against Tulfo
and 20 other respondents is just one of thousands of other cases all
over the country, which are reportedly being used as a tool by
politicians and private individuals to suppress freedom of the press
and protect their anomalous or illegal activities.
Despite the issuance of the
warrants against the 21 newsmen, the Manila Police District is the
only one complying with the memorandum of agreement forged between
the National Press Club and the Philippine National Police calling
for the authorities to inform the NPC before the arrest of any of
its members.
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