KMU condemns attempted arrest on Malacañang reporter

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today expressed condemnation on the arrest try on Business Mirror reporter Mia Gonzalez inside Malacañang yesterday.

Gonzalez is one of the 43 reporters and journalists facing libel charges files by Mr. Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo.

According to KMU National Chairperson Elmer Labog, "The arrest try by the Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives on Gonzalez inside the Press Working Area of the Malacañang Press Corps is a direct attack on press freedom. This is being done through machine-gun like filing of libel suits by the Mr. Arroyo against his critics."

Labog also expressed support to the fight of the journalists. "Just like our brothers and sisters in the media, workers and the Filipino people are suffering from a two-pronged attack - assassination by death squads and filing of trumped-up charges to paralyze opposition to Gloria Arroyo."

One day before the arrest try on Gonzalez, another journalist on the order of battle of Mr. Arroyo received a death threat. Ellen Tordesillas, columnist of Malaya received the threat thru her e-mail.

KMU also showed support for the campaign in decriminalization of libel. "Filing of libel suits are being used to silence the media who espoused the truth and expose the wrongdoings of those in government."

Local business should follow JFCC

Labog also added that local businesses should have a clear position against the continued extra-judicial killings in the country after the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCC) were pushed to condemn such brutal attacks on human rights. According to a letter of JFCC, the administration of Arroyo should do something to end the killings lest no foreign investments shall come in.

"If the local business people are afraid to come out in the open against the extra-judicial killings, they can do it covertly by not supporting Arroyo and her cohorts in the upcoming May elections," ended Labog.

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