> Philippine police..  arrested Walden Bello, a 76-year-old social activist, academic, and former congressman, at his home in Quezon City on charges of cyber-libel..
> The.. cyber-libel law, passed in 2012, has been used.. against journalist.. critics of the government, and.. social media users.. 3,700 cyber-libel cases were filed as of May 2022.. 1,317 were filed in court while 1,131 were dismissed. Twelve cases ended in a conviction.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/09/philippine-activist-arrested-cyber-libel
#Cyberlibel #WaldenBello
Philippine Activist Arrested for Cyber-libel

Philippine police on Monday arrested Walden Bello, a 76-year-old social activist, academic, and former congressman, at his home in Quezon City on charges of cyber-libel. The arrest was based on allegations by Jefry Tupas, a former information officer for Vice President Sara Duterte. Bello spent the night in jail before being released after paying bail.

Human Rights Watch
> Instead of Duterte participating in... televised debates—as all the other candidates for vice president did—her camp not only filed the #cyberlibel charge against me; it also had the city council of Davao declare me “persona non grata” and labeled me a “narco-politician,” a charge that has negative implications for my physical security in a country where thousands have been extrajudicially executed for being allegedly drug users and peddlers
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/why-walden-bellos-arrest-and-detention-for-cyberlibel-demands-attention/
#SaraDuterte #WaldenBello
Why Walden Bello’s Arrest and Detention for Cyberlibel Demands Attention

The charge is a brazen case of weaponing the law against critics.

The Nation

#SonnyTrillanes filed the complaints before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, May 14. The former senator, one of the staunchest critics of former president #RodrigoDuterte, said he filed libel and #CyberLibel complaints against Roque and Banat By for accusing him of giving away #ScarboroughShoal (#PanatagShoal) to #China during backchannel talks in 2012. #Philippines #WestPHSea

Trillanes sues #HarryRoque, #SMNI, #BanatBy for libel, cyber libel
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/trillanes-sues-harry-roque-smni-banat-by-cyber-libel/

Trillanes sues Harry Roque, SMNI, Banat By for libel, cyber libel

Former senator Sonny Trillanes says he filed the complaints against Roque and Banat By for accusing him of giving away Scarborough Shoal to China during backchannel talks in 2012

RAPPLER

Good on Ayala Corporation for winning its cyber libel case against an online user that defamed and red-tagged it. But I still maintain that libel (and cyber libel) should be decriminalized in the first place as an outdated provision of the 1930 Revised Penal Code.

https://www.rappler.com/business/ayala-corp-urges-public-take-action-fake-news-wins-cyber-libel-cases/

#Philippines #libel #CyberLibel

Ayala Corp urges public to take action vs fake news after winning cyber libel cases

The Zobel de Ayala-led firm wins cyber libel cases against a Twitter user who claimed that Ayala Corporation supports the New People's Army

RAPPLER

TOP NEWS: Teen shot dead 💔 Reds kill farmer 👎 #policecorruption #drugwar 👎 #harmreduction media fellows named 💻 #cyberlibel 🖥 cop mauls lover👮🏽‍♀️ illegal mining in Tampakan ⛏ biggest ever 🇺🇸-🇵🇭 war games

Philippines: Human Rights News 04/12/2023 https://humanrightsnews.substack.com/p/philippines-human-rights-news-04122023

Philippines: Human Rights News 04/12/2023

TOP NEWS: Teen shot 💔 Reds kill farmer 👎 #policecorruption #drugwar 👎 #harmreduction media fellows 💻 #cyberlibel 🖥 cop mauls lover👮🏽‍♀️ mining in Tampakan ⛏ biggest ever 🇺🇸-🇵🇭 war games

Philippines: Human Rights News and Updates

Top News: More summary killings; #political violence: Marcos orders dismantling of private armies; #drugwar #impunity: EU GSP+, Marcos in crossroads; #cyberlibel: "basher" convicted; #HIV infection rise

Philippines: Human Rights News 03/20/2023 https://humanrightsnews.substack.com/p/philippines-human-rights-news-03202023

Philippines: Human Rights News 03/20/2023

Top News: More killings; #political violence: Marcos orders dismantling of private armies; #drugwar #impunity: EU GSP+, Marcos in crossroads; #cyberlibel: "basher" convicted; #HIV infection rise

Philippines: Human Rights News and Updates

"The [#Philippine] #Constitution guarantees #press #freedom and free expression. But not even those fundamental freedoms are absolute. #Libel, for example, is NOT protected speech...and in the digital age, libeling someone online - #cyberlibel - actually carries a higher penalty."
- https://inqm.news/zkgm

#rappler #mariaressa #media #philippines

PRESS PLAY: Libel and Cyberlibel, and Maria Ressa's Conviction: Explained