Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility Escalating the Cost of Free Expression
Statement on the conviction for libel of Ninez Cacho-Olivares

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility views with alarm the conviction for libel and sentencing to a prison term as well as payment of fines of Daily Tribune publisher and editor Ninez Cacho–Olivares.

The six months to two years' imprisonment sentence imposed by Judge Winlove Dumayas of Branch 59 of the Makati Regional Trial Court ignores a Supreme Court memorandum urging the imposition of fines rather than prison terms on journalists convicted of libel.

Winners in Ongpin Awards Known By June 26

The best investigative and explanatory reports published in 2007 will be named on June 26 from among ten finalists during the 19th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence on Journalism (JVOAEJ), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) which administers the awards has announced.

CMFR Philippines Alert:
Three journalists abducted by terrorist group

CMFR/Philippines—Three journalists from a major media network along with their source have been missing since 8 June 2008 in Sulu, Mindanao, and are believed to have been abducted by the Abu Sayyaf, the terrorist group based in Southern Philippines. Sulu is an island approximately 1,000 km south of Manila.

ABS-CBN network released a statement on 10 June 2008 stating that senior correspondent Cecilia Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon and cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama were "missing in Sulu," Together with Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo, who had invited the three journalists to Sulu.

Read more here.

CMFR Philippines:
Critical newspaper publisher convicted of libel, sentenced to jail

CMFR/Philippines—The publisher of a daily newspaper critical of the Arroyo government was found guilty of libel on 5 June 2008 and sentenced to a minimum of six months to a maximum of two years in prison. She was also ordered to pay P5 million (approximately $113,480) in moral damages and P33,732.25 (approximately $765.58) in civil damages.

Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas found Ninez Cacho-Olivares, publisher, editor in chief and columnist of Manila's The Daily Tribune guilty of libel for a 23 June 2003 article, "Firm's Partners Ensure Victory of AEDC." The article alleged that then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo chose people connected to his own law firm, Carpio Villaraza Cruz (CVC), to handle a complaint by one of its clients against the winning bidder in a controversial build-operate contract for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III.

Read more here.

CMFR Philippines alert
Media groups ask Supreme Court to release jailed broadcaster

CMFR/Philippines – Two media organizations have filed on 30 May 2008 a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the Philippine Supreme Court asking for the release of jailed radio commentator Alexander “Alex” Adonis.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines questioned before the Supreme Court the refusal of Superintendent Venancio Tesoro to release Adonis despite a parole order from the Department of Justice’s Board of Pardon and Paroles (DOJ-BPP) dated December 2007 and a release order from the Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 14 issued 26 May 2008. Tesoro is the warden of the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) where Adonis is serving a sentence for criminal libel. Davao is a province approximately 946 km south of Manila.

Read more here.

CMFR Philippines alert:
Jail official refuses to release broadcaster despite court order

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A jail official refused on 26 May 2008 to release a radio commentator jailed for libel since last year despite a court order.

The warden of the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) in Davao del Norte has not released radio broadcaster Alexander "Alex" Adonis despite being paroled by the Department of Justice Board of Pardon and Paroles (DOJ-BPP) as early as December 2007 and the posting of a bail bond for another libel case. The parole order granted by the DOJ-BPP was received by Dapecol on February 2008. Davao is a province approximately 946 kms south of Manila.

Read more here.