Philippine journalist says arrest, libel case a ‘special operation’

Veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr., escorted by police officers, leaves the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10 (Kamuning) on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, to undergo a mandatory medical examination following his arrest. Lustre was taken into custody earlier in the day by virtue of a warrant of arrest for cyber libel issued by a Regional Trial Court in Davao City. — PDI/ANN

MANILA: Veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. said his arrest over the weekend had a procedural flaw and was an operation that specifically targeted him.

The arrest has led lawyers to warn that it could create a climate of fear among the press as they called anew for decriminalising libel.

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Philippine journalist says arrest, libel case a ‘special operation’

资深记者菲利普·卢斯特（Philip Lustre Jr.）在警员押送下于2026年10月24日星期六离开奎松市警察局第10分局（卡穆宁），前往接受逮捕后的强制性体检。卢斯特当天早些时候因涉嫌网络诽谤被达沃市地区审判法院签发的逮捕令拘留。——PDI/ANN

马尼拉：资深记者菲利普·卢斯特表示，他周末被捕的程序存在缺陷，这是一次专门针对他的行动。

此次逮捕事件引发了律师们的担忧，他们警告说，这可能会在媒体中造成恐慌气氛，他们再次呼吁将诽谤罪非刑事化。

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菲律宾记者称逮捕和诽谤案是“特别行动”