Veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr detained in Quezon City on cyber-libel charge
Seventy-two-year-old journalist Philip Lustre Jr was arrested by Quezon City police on a cyber-libel allegation and will remain in custody pending court hearings.
Acting district director PBGEN Christopher Olazo of the Quezon City Police Department led the arrest of veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr, aged 72, on a cyber-libel warrant issued by Branch 10 of the Davao City Regional Trial Court. Officers from the Kamuning Police Station 10’s warrant section and the city’s anti-cybercrime team carried out the operation as Lustre attended a House of Representatives news forum at a restaurant on Scout Borromeo Street.
Lawyer Dino De Leon, also present at the forum, will represent Lustre. The detention follows a cyber-libel complaint lodged by Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte concerning a GMA Network story alleging bribery involving him and Vice President Sara Duterte. In a video posted by ABS-CBN News, Lustre said he does not know who filed the complaint. He will remain in police custody until further court action.
Why it matters
The arrest raises concerns about press freedom and the use of cyber-libel laws against journalists in the Philippines.
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