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→29 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani in two months
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==Pacman told to hold his P75-M ‘punch’ on newsman== | |||
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/19144-pacman-told-to-hold-his-p75-m-punch-on-newsman | |||
*Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | |||
:by Neil A. Alcober | |||
Pound-for-pound ring icon and eight-division world boxing champion and lawmaker Manny Pacquiao was goaded to his hold punches on a newsman. | |||
The Center for International Law (CenterLaw) Executive Director Atty. Romel Regalado Bagares on Tuesday urged boxing sensation and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to withdraw the complaint he filed against the General Santos City-based freelance journalist Edwin Espejo, in connection with the latter’s reportage linking former Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group official Mohammad “Bong” Akia –wanted by police for carnapping – to the boxing champion. | |||
The center is extending a legal assistance to Espejo who is facing a P75-million libel suit thrown at him by the Sarangani lawmaker. | |||
Bagares said that Pacquiao can even lead the way by supporting or filing a bill to decriminalize Philippine libel laws. | |||
The legal team of the Sarangani congressman and boxing legend filed the case on March 5, over Espejo’s article which said sources had informed him that Akia had been staying in Pacquiao’s mansion even as police were closely monitoring the former Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group official’s movements. | |||
The pieces were published under the headlines “Stolen car dealer finds refuge in Pacman mansion” on the Asian Correspondent site, and “Dealer of stolen cars last seen in Pacman mansion” on MindaNews. | |||
Espejo cited reports that Akia (or Aquia) was seen with Pacquaio on a flight from Manila to General Santos City, and that the two departed in the same car for Pacquiao’s mansion. Akia/Aquia has not been seen since. | |||
According to Bagares, Espejo sought the congressman’s side to the story, but could not reach him as Pacquiao was then abroad. Espejo then spoke with a lawyer for Pacquiao, who denied that the congressman had anything to do with Akia. | |||
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has also urged Pacquiao to reconsider the case saying he is in a good position to set an example for other politicians to emulate: “It would be a shame if Pacquiao should risk his well-deserved reputation by succumbing to the same urge that has seen abusive official after abusive official resorting to our draconian criminal libel law — or even worse measures — to stifle reasonable criticism and critical coverage.” | |||
NUJP also urged Pacquiao to drop the case, and renewed its call for the decriminalization of libel in a report on Mindanews. | |||
Espejo heads the NUJP chapter for South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City. | |||
Early this year, the UNHRC declared that the Philippines breached its obligations under the ICCPR when Davao City-based broadcast journalist Alex Adonis was sent to prison in connection with a libel suit filed against him by then Speaker Prospero Nograles over what has come to be known as the “Burlesque King scandal.” | |||
The view is the Committee’s ruling on CenterLaw’s petition filed in mid-2008 on behalf of Adonis. According to the UNHRC, the country’s criminal libel law is “incompatible” with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights, which protects the right to free expression and opinion. | |||
Adonis was represented in the proceedings before the UNHCR by CenterLaw’s chief counsel lawyer Harry Roque. CenterLaw, a human rights organization dedicated to the promotion of free expression, is a charter member of the Southeast Asia Media Defense Network, an alliance of regional lawyers’ and media advocacy groups providing legal support to journalists facing legal persecution for the work they do. | |||
According to CenterLaw, free expression advocacy groups see the UNHRC’s pronouncement in the Alex Adonis case as a landmark holding, as it was the very first declaration by the human rights body on the incompatibility of criminal libel laws with the right of free expression. | |||
==29 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani in two months== | ==29 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani in two months== | ||
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=412247 | *Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=412247 | ||
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Such effort was endorsed by Sarangani officials led by Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao, who offered to help provide livelihood assistance for the rebel returnees. | Such effort was endorsed by Sarangani officials led by Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao, who offered to help provide livelihood assistance for the rebel returnees. | ||
==Civilian hurt in NPA harassment in Sarangani== | ==Civilian hurt in NPA harassment in Sarangani== | ||