Lawyer questions timing of Davao cyberlibel case against journalist Philip Lustre Jr.
Counsel Dino de Leon raised concerns that the Davao City Prosecutor's Office may be used to intimidate critical journalists, after his client was arrested and later released on bail.
The lawyer for journalist Philip Lustre Jr. has questioned the timing of a cyberlibel case filed against his client in Davao City, raising the possibility that the city's prosecutor's office is being used to pressure journalists critical of the Duterte family, according to Politiko.
Lustre was arrested in Quezon City on a warrant issued by a Davao City Regional Trial Court in connection with the cyberlibel complaint. He was later released after posting bail of P48,000.
Speaking on Bilyonaryo News Channel's "At The Forefront" with lawyer Karen Jimeno, counsel Dino de Leon noted that the complaint against Lustre was filed roughly 24 hours after Mans Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, lodged a complaint against GMA Network. An arrest warrant against Lustre followed.
De Leon said the sequence of events raises questions about whether the justice system is being used to send a message to journalists who are critical of the Dutertes.
"This is very reminiscent of the past," he said, citing the killing of journalists, the loss of ABS-CBN's franchise, and legal cases against opposition figures during the Duterte administration.
He also warned that lawyers themselves could become vulnerable when dealing with the Dutertes.
The source did not include a response from the Davao City Prosecutor's Office, the complainant, or the Duterte camp.
Why it matters for Davao
The case puts a spotlight on how cyberlibel complaints are handled by Davao City's prosecutor's office and courts, and on concerns about press freedom raised by the journalist's counsel.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by POLITIKO. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
Discussion (0)
Sign in with Google to join the discussion.
Sign in to commentNo comments yet. Start the conversation.