Tacloban City, Philippines — The Region 8 Media Citizen Council, Inc. has strongly condemned the recent arrest of Josie Serseña, a journalist for Eastern Visayas Mail (EV Mail) in Ormoc City, calling it a blatant assault on press freedom and a gross miscarriage of justice.
The NUJP Leyte and the EVMWB also earlier denounced the arrest of Serseña saying it violates her constitutional rights.
Serseña was apprehended on July 5 through a bench warrant, despite her claim that she never received any summons to appear in court for a hearing involving a drug suspect. The police asserted that the summons were not served due to an unclear address. However, the Council questioned this explanation, noting the authorities’ ability to locate and arrest Serseña efficiently.
“This incident raises serious questions about the integrity and intentions of the law enforcement agencies involved,” the Council stated in a July 8 statement posted on their Facebook page. “The selective application of legal processes undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust in our justice system.”
The Council highlighted that the arrest of Serseña violates several provisions of Philippine law, including the right to due process, as outlined in Article III, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution, which guarantees proper and timely notice of any legal proceedings. They argued that the failure to serve the summons while swiftly executing the arrest warrant indicates a breach of this fundamental right.
Moreover, the Council pointed out that the arrest infringes on press freedom, protected under Article III, Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution, which explicitly guarantees freedom of the press. Arresting a journalist for alleged procedural issues in a court case where proper legal notice was not provided is seen as an affront to this constitutional guarantee.
Additionally, the Council accused the police of potentially violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713), which mandates that public officials perform their duties with responsibility, integrity, and transparency.
Despite posting bail of P1,000, Serseña and the Council demand a full explanation from the concerned government agencies for what they described as an arbitrary arrest. They also urge the judiciary to review the circumstances surrounding the case to ensure justice is served.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) have previously spoken against the inclusion of journalists as witnesses in buy-bust operations, a practice that Serseña’s arrest has brought into focus once again.
The Region 8 Media Citizen Council called on all media organizations and press freedom advocates to stand in solidarity with Serseña and continue to fight against any form of intimidation and harassment of journalists.
“Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy. The unjust arrest of our fellow journalist Josie Serseña is not just an attack on an individual but an attack on the very principles that uphold our democratic society,” the Council concluded.
