MANILA, Philippines – Quezon City police arrested veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. on Saturday, October 24, over a cyber libel complaint filed by a still unidentified complainant.
Lustre’s lawyer, Dino de Leon, said in a press statement on Sunday, October 25, that Lustre had just attended the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant on Scout Borromeo Street in Quezon City when members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)’s Kamuning Station 10 served the warrant issued by
Judge Retrina Fuentes of Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 10.
De Leon, who was a guest at the forum, agreed to be Lustre’s lawyer on the spot after the journalist requested him.
Lustre’s bail was set at P48,000. Lustre said in a Facebook past midnight that he was released after posting bail, and that his media friends passed the hat to raise the amount.
De Leon said they would seek the reopening of the preliminary investigation into the complaint against Lustre so that the latter could answer the accusation. He also questioned the arrest made on a Saturday, when there is difficulty in posting bail. He said the arrest warrant was dated October 2.
“The authorities must explain the process, and we will examine the records. If anyone used the law to harass or needlessly keep an elderly journalist in detention, that person must answer for it,” he said.
DARGON Law, where De Leon is a partner, said in a social media post: “DARGON Law will steadfastly protect Mr. Lustre’s legal interests and constitutional rights. Mr. Lustre reserves all legal rights and remedies to file appropriate counter-charges and administrative complaints to vindicate his rights,”
Fierce Duterte critic
Lustre, 72, is the author behind Kill, Kill, Kill: Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines, a book about former president Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.
Must Read Philip Lustre Jr.’s arrest a ‘warning’ for journalists – lawyer
Lustre still managed to find a silver lining in his arrest, saying in a social media post after his release that he has another book on the way, tentatively titled “MISFIT SARA Life and Times of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio; The Impeachment Trial of a Filipino Vice President,” which he said would be available by December.
“My arrest has become a chance to promote my new book,” he said.
Lustre’s arrest comes after Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte filed a cyber libel complaint against GMA Network’s journalists over a report about bribery claims against him and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Must Read Paolo Duterte files cyber libel complaint vs GMA Network over Gracioso report
– Rappler.com
