Two journalists employed by the privately-owned daily Malaya, Maria Elena Catajan and Redjie Melvic Cawis, plan to file a complaint against the deputy mayor of Alfonso Lista, in the northern province of Ifugao, accusing him of threatening them with firearms during an interview on May 10.
Catajan and Cawis were invited to deputy mayor Clarence Polig's home for an interview while covering the town's festival. But Polig, who was under the effects of alcohol, accused them of covering the event "illegally" and "without permission." They tried to explain that they had been invited by Mayor Charles Cattiling and the Tourism department.
They felt directly threatened when Polig and three unidentified people with him allegedly "brandished their guns" and reportedly threatened them in several languages. A fourth person wearing a mask tried to prevent them from leaving. The police confirmed that the incident took place, but said the deputy mayor denied brandishing guns to frighten the journalists.
Un élu et sa garde rapprochée menacent deux journalistes armes au poing
Deux correspondants du quotidien privé Malaya envisagent de porter plainte contre un responsable du conseil municipal d'Alfonso Lista, dans la province d'Ifugao (nord). Ce dernier les a menacés avec des armes à feu, le 10 mai 2008, au cours d'un entretien.
Les journalistes Maria Elena Catajan et Redjie Melvic Cawis avaient été invités pour une entrevue dans la résidence du vice maire d'Alfonso Lista, Clarence Polig, alors qu'ils couvraient le festival de la ville.
Le responsable politique, qui se trouvait alors sous l'emprise de l'alcool, les a accusés d'être venus couvrir l'événement "illégalement" et "sans autorisation". Les deux journalistes ont tenté de s'expliquer, arguant qu'ils étaient venus à l'invitation du maire Charles Cattiling et pour le compte du département du Tourisme.
Maria Elena Catajan et Redjie Melvic Cawis se sont sentis directement menacés lorsque Clarence Polig et trois personnes non identifiées de son entourage ont "brandi leurs armes" en les insultant en plusieurs langues. Un quatrième individu encagoulé a également essayé de les empêcher de partir. La police locale a confirmé l'incident, mais a déclaré que le vice maire démentait avoir "brandi ses armes" pour effrayer les journalistes.
Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
47 rue Vivienne 75002 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 70
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
asia@rsf.orgwww.rsf.org
Showing posts with label Malaya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaya. Show all posts
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
8 Filipino Journalists Face Arrest For Libel
Reporters Without Borders condemned the "hounding" of eight journalists by José Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has lodged a series of complaints against them for "defamation", still treated as a criminal offence under Philippines law.
The issue on 16 October 2006 of arrest warrants against the eight journalists on the privately-owned daily Malaya was the latest stage in this outrageous harassment, said the worldwide press freedom organisation.
"Reporters Without Borders condemns this hounding by José Miguel Arroyo which is eroding press freedom in the Philippines. Even though the spouse of the head of state has no political mandate, he is nevertheless very influential in the country and several of his friends are very highly-placed officials," it said.
"With 43 complaints laid against the journalists, Jose Miguel Arroyo is seeking a total of 70 million pesos (nearly 1.1 million euros) in damages. Under the pretext of defending his reputation he is casting a long shadow over the investigative and independent press in the country," the organisation said.
On 16 October 2006, a Manila regional judge Silvino Pampilo ordered the arrest of the eight Malaya journalists: publisher Amado Macasaet, editors Enrique Romualdez, Joy de los Reyes, Teresa Molina and Minnie Advincula, journalists Ellen Tordesillas, JP Lopez and Regina Bengco and the editorialist Francisco Tatad.
They each had to put up a surety of 10,000 pesos (160 euros) to avoid being held in custody. In article which appeared in Malaya on 19 May 2004, the editorialist and former senator Francisco Tatad accused Jose Miguel Arroyo of embezzlement during the presidential campaign the same year.
Reporters Without Borders backed a recent appeal by journalists' organisations, including the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), condemning the constant complaints and calling for defamation to be decriminalised.
A defamation suit lodged by the governor of Cavite in Luzon-Sud province, northern Philippines, led to the arrest on 2 October 2006 of Rudy Apollo, editorialist and managing editor of local newspapers Asian Star Journal and Asian Star Balita.
He was released on bail the following day.
Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
5 rue Geoffroy Marie
75009 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 70
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
asia@rsf.orgwww.rsf.org
The issue on 16 October 2006 of arrest warrants against the eight journalists on the privately-owned daily Malaya was the latest stage in this outrageous harassment, said the worldwide press freedom organisation.
"Reporters Without Borders condemns this hounding by José Miguel Arroyo which is eroding press freedom in the Philippines. Even though the spouse of the head of state has no political mandate, he is nevertheless very influential in the country and several of his friends are very highly-placed officials," it said.
"With 43 complaints laid against the journalists, Jose Miguel Arroyo is seeking a total of 70 million pesos (nearly 1.1 million euros) in damages. Under the pretext of defending his reputation he is casting a long shadow over the investigative and independent press in the country," the organisation said.
On 16 October 2006, a Manila regional judge Silvino Pampilo ordered the arrest of the eight Malaya journalists: publisher Amado Macasaet, editors Enrique Romualdez, Joy de los Reyes, Teresa Molina and Minnie Advincula, journalists Ellen Tordesillas, JP Lopez and Regina Bengco and the editorialist Francisco Tatad.
They each had to put up a surety of 10,000 pesos (160 euros) to avoid being held in custody. In article which appeared in Malaya on 19 May 2004, the editorialist and former senator Francisco Tatad accused Jose Miguel Arroyo of embezzlement during the presidential campaign the same year.
Reporters Without Borders backed a recent appeal by journalists' organisations, including the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), condemning the constant complaints and calling for defamation to be decriminalised.
A defamation suit lodged by the governor of Cavite in Luzon-Sud province, northern Philippines, led to the arrest on 2 October 2006 of Rudy Apollo, editorialist and managing editor of local newspapers Asian Star Journal and Asian Star Balita.
He was released on bail the following day.
Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
5 rue Geoffroy Marie
75009 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 70
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
asia@rsf.orgwww.rsf.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)