“It can happen to any of us. Even because of a mere police story. As long as someone wants to silence you.” So says multi-awarded journalist and editor-in-chief Stella Estremera after a trial court found her and former publisher Antonio Ajero guilty of libel for publishing an alleged one-sided news article 10 years ago.
By DAVAO TODAY The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Davao City Chapter (NUJP-Davao) has issued a statement condemning Dela Rosa's "arrogance and disrespect" towards members of the media. “Such arrogance and disrespect by Dela Rosa towards members of the press is condemnable," the NUJP-Davao said. "His attitude is reflective of the whole Davao City police personnel who actually treated people in the same manner as they beat up the barricaders indiscriminately including women and children.”
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN Davao Today Brad Adams, Asia director for the Human Rights Watch, said the Ampatuan massacre has “brought to light” the dangers posed by private armies, militias, and paramilitaries in the country “but the administration of President Benigno Aquino III has not seriously addressed the problem.”
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN Davao Today Joel Mahinay of the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao said that “the ruling is anathema to the nature of a public trial and transparency,” adding that the trial “involves public interest which any invocation of the individual right of the accused must be subordinated.”
By ALEX D. LOPEZ Davao Today “Usually, because of the nature of our work, we are assigned outside the place where we were registered. This is the reason why a lot of media workers cannot vote,” Jessie Casalda, the chairperson of NUJP-Davao, noted.