Media groups slam cops for arrest try on colleague over FG libel case

Media organizations and journalists covering Malacañang slammed yesterday an attempt by policemen to arrest a veteran reporter inside the Palace press working area over a libel case filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

At least five plainclothesmen from the Manila Police District led by a certain Inspector Riparip went to the New Executive Building at around 10 a.m. and inquired on the whereabouts of Mia Gonzalez of the BusinessMirror.

It so happened that the one who was asked is a member of the Malacañang Press Corps, Rose Novenario of the tabloid Tanod.

Gonzalez was not yet around and Novenario informed this reporter, who is also MPC president, of the presence of policemen at the lobby.

The building also houses the office of Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

When confronted by this reporter, the policemen said they merely wanted to "ask (Gonzalez) some questions". Gonzalez is one of 43 journalists facing libel suits filed by Mr. Arroyo.

When asked whether they were going to arrest Gonzalez, a policeman insisted that they were going to ask her "confidential questions."

However, two of the policemen –identified as Senior Police Officers 2 Ruel Ramos and Jesse Manalang –wrote in the security logbook at the office’s entrance that they were there to serve an arrest warrant against Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who is also MPC vice president for print, was sued over an article she wrote on President Arroyo in Newsbreak magazine titled, "Will She Now Change?" published on June 7, 2004.

Marites Vitug, editor-in-chief of Newsbreak, expressed surprise over the attempt to arrest Gonzalez, especially since they have not received a copy of the court’s resolution.

"We, including our counsel, have not received a copy of the resolution from the court," she said. "We deplore the shortcut in the legal process, a clear abuse of power."

Gonzalez, who did not proceed to the Palace, said she is not running away from her legal obligations but expressed suspicion why she was not given any notice.

She said there was nothing libelous in the article as the issue of Mr. Arroyo’s alleged influence in government appointments has long been the subject of accusations by opposition leaders.

Jose Torres Jr., National Union of Journalists of the Philippines president, said the attempt to arrest Gonzalez showed an utter disregard for press freedom and working journalists.

"That the attempt to arrest Gonzalez was made right inside the Palace grounds, which is not only her workplace but also home of her accuser and his powerful spouse, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, cannot but make us suspect that this was a deliberate attempt to send a chilling warning to journalists that no place is sacrosanct when it comes to appeasing the whims of the mighty," he said.

Sammy Julian, a National Press Club director and MPC past president, slammed what he called "the anomalous manner" in serving the warrant.

He said the attempt "sent a chilling message (that) there is no sanctuary for journalists who have earned the ire of the mighty and the powerful."

Ruy Rondain, Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer, said his client had nothing to do with the attempt to arrest Gonzalez as the First Gentleman was not aware that the warrant was going to be served.

"If anybody is to be blamed for whatever inconvenience she may have had, it’s Ms. Gonzalez herself," he said.

"She wrote the libelous articles and maligned the reputation of the First Gentleman. So she should be brave enough to face the consequences."

Rondain said as a private citizen, Mr. Arroyo cannot order the police to enforce or stop the arrest of Gonzalez.

"Once a warrant is issued, even Gonzalez’s lawyer should know that it has to be served immediately," he said.