NUJP will continue to campaign against criminal libel

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) welcomes the Supreme Court circular urging judges to forgo imprisonment as a punishment for those convicted of libel.

Justice Puno’s bold move, one of many he has taken in defense of basic rights and liberties, gives us hope to continue calling on Congress to act on our demand to decriminalize libel.

We note, however, that Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s announcement does not remove libel from our criminal statutes or prevent those who want to silence the media from filing cases against journalists.

The NUJP will continue to campaign against criminal libel. We urge our lawmakers not to pass up this chance to strengthen press freedom and democracy.

References:
Joe Torres Jr., NUJP chair
Rowena Paraan, NUJP Secretary-General

A victory of the people’s struggle vs. toxic chemicals: Banana plantation suit against activist doctor and daughter dismissed!-KMP

After seven years of patiently enduring the legal action brought against them by the Lapanday Agricultural and Development Corporation, Dr. Romeo Quijano, president of Pesticide Action Network Philippines, and his daughter Ilang-Ilang were finally acquitted of a civil case of P5.5 million worth of damages.

In the decision, a copy of which was auspiciously received by PAN Philippines on Human Rights Day, December 10, Judge Renato Fuentes of Branch 11 of the Regional Trial Court in Davao City concluded that: ” In the final analysis, however, the evidence of plaintiff corporation as found, there is apparently no convincing proof, the subject publication devoid of criminal prosecution for libel as already established, do not prove in a separate civil action filed, any malicious intent of defendants against the plaintiff corporation, to produce an action for damages… WHEREFORE, finding the cause of action of plaintiff corporation against the defendants not proved by sufficient preponderance of evidence is DENIED and this case ordered DISMISSED ” (sic).

Court temporarily stops class suit against president’s husband

CMFR/Philippines—The class action suit filed by 40 journalists and three media organizations against presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo for his alleged abuse of right and violation of press freedom, had not even reached the pre-trial stage a year after it was filed. Both sides had been locked in an argument over legal technicalities.

But in a decision dated 24 September 2007, the Court of Appeals (CA) granted Mr. Arroyo’s petition asking for a preliminary injunction on the hearing of the affirmative defenses, thus putting the case on hold.