Philippines / Asia

Detailed accounts of each imprisoned journalist.

New York, November 29, 2007 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is angered by the detention of about 17 journalists by Philippine police after a seven-hour standoff between a dissident group of soldiers and government security forces at the Peninsula Hotel in Manila’s Makati business district today. Some of the reporters were released in a…

Justice is served in less than 15 percent of journalist murders. Our research suggests that the absence of justice promotes a higher incidence of murder. “Impunity,” one Russian lawyer tells CPJ, “is a chronic disease.”

MANILA, Philippines–As a private attorney in the Philippines, Nena Santos does not have standing to try a murder case. But under an unusual provision of Philippine criminal law, she is permitted to work directly with police and government prosecutors in all phases of the investigation and trial: gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, and drafting potential indictments.…

New York, October 9, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Philippine government to act quickly to apprehend the gunmen who shot and seriously wounded radio commentator Jose Pantoja on Monday in the city of Iligan, about 500 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Manila. Pantoja was a “block time” broadcaster—an independent commentator who leased…

Marlene Garcia-Esperat is among dozens of reporters murdered in the Philippines. Unlike all the others, though, her case might actually be solved.

NEW YORK, September 4, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the recent violent attack against journalist Joel Abilay, a radio reporter for Radio GMA (RGMA) in Cadiz City of the province of Negros Occidental. According to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and local media reports, Abilay was stabbed…

CPJ Update August 2007 News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

Manila, July 26, 2007 -The chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court told a delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists that he will seek justice in the unsolved killings of journalists and will use his authority to protect freedom of speech and of the press. “The fact that the killings remain unsolved heightens public…

New York, July 26, 2007–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Wednesday’s shooting of radio journalist and station manager Ferdinand “Bambi” Yngson in Sagay City, on the central island of Negros. Yngson was on his way to work when he was shot in the left arm, according to news reports. “We are appalled at this vicious…