Philip Lustre freed on bail; lawyer calls arrest a press freedom attack
MANILA — Veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. was released from police custody on Saturday night after posting P48,000 bail in connection with a cyberlibel case against him in Davao City.
Lustre, 72, was released from the Quezon City Police District’s Kamuning Police Station 10 shortly after 11 p.m. on October 24 after Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 217.
In its October 24 order, the court directed the station’s jail warden to release Lustre after finding his cash bond in order. It also instructed him to coordinate with Davao City RTC Branch 10 for his scheduled hearings.
Lustre was arrested Saturday morning while attending a forum at a restaurant in Quezon City. Police apprehended him over a warrant of arrest issued in connection with an online libel case under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
His lawyer, Atty. Dino de Leon, said they still do not know who filed the complaint.
“Nagagalak tayo na nakalaya na natin si Philip Lustre na naaresto kaninang umaga. Ito ay malinaw na, sa aming palagay, ay ito ay pag-atake sa freedom of the press,” De Leon said.
(I’m glad that we have managed to get Philip Lustre, who was arrested this morning, released. We see this as a clear attack on the freedom of the press.)
Media and rights groups have for decades called for the decriminalization of libel as an outdated offense that has been used to curtail freedom of speech and of the press.
Decriminalization would not remove the option of suing for damages.
De Leon also alleged that authorities intended to keep Lustre in detention over the weekend, but said journalists and lawyers worked throughout the day to secure his release.
“Marami sa mga kapwa natin journalist ang nag-ambag-ambag para punuan yung bail ni Philip,” De Leon said.
(Many fellow journalists contributed to Philips bail.)
Lustre, meanwhile, questioned the details of the complaint, saying he was unaware of any case against him before his arrest.
“Ang ipinagtataka ko lang, may complaint pero walang complainant. Tapos yung address, mali.”
(I am wondering why there is a complaint but no complainant. And they used the wrong address.)
He said the address on the complaint was of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
“Hindi ako empleyado roon at hindi ako nagtrabaho roon.”
(I am not an employee there and I did not work there.)
The journalist also said he did not want to speculate on who might be behind the complaint.
Lustre is the author of “Kill, Kill, Kill,” a book that examines the bloody drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte, including alleged extrajudicial killings.
He said the book might be among the factors but declined to draw definitive conclusions.
Lustre speculated that the complaint may have been filed by Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte or Atty. Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Sila ang mainit sa akin e. Marami akong sinulat tungkol din sa kanila,” Lustre said.
(They are upset with me. I wrote a lot about them.)
In a Facebook post following his release, Lustre alleged that his arrest was intended to keep him in detention over the weekend.
“There was [a] procedure flaw in the process,” he said as he pointed to a “Davao group” as being behind it.
He also announced that his fourth book—which focuses on the vice president’s life, political career, and the ongoing impeachment proceedings in the Senate—is expected to be released in December.
De Leon said he believed the timing and circumstances of Lustre’s arrest could send a chilling effect on members of the media.
“This is reminiscent of the Duterte style of leadership,” he said, as he cited cases of media and rights defenders being silenced or killed then.
Senator Risa Hontiveros visited Lustre at Kamuning Police Station 10 on Saturday night, but declined media interviews.
Lustre’s daughter, Blanche, said the family was relieved by his release.
“Masaya naman po. Iyon lang naman po yung gusto namin na mailabas siya ASAP. Kaya nagpunta kami kaagad dito,” she said.
Lustre is expected to coordinate with the Davao City RTC as directed by the court.