Radio commentator nabbed for cyberlibel

HE SAID BETTER JUST SHOOT HIM DEAD | Waldy Carbonell is served an arrest warrant by a plainclothes officer before his mug shot is taken at Camp Crame. (Video screengrab from a video on the Facebook page of Waldy Carbonnel and photo from the PNP Public Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — A local radio commentator, who was once challenged to a gunfight by former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested by police on Sunday on charges of cyberlibel.

In a message to the Inquirer, Metro Manila police’s spokesperson Lt. Col. Dexter Versola confirmed that Waldy Carbonell, book author and feisty anchorman of dwBL, was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on orders of Laoag Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Judge Bonhoefer Vergara Bernardez.

Carbonell, 79, faces five counts of cyberlibel filed by Mayor Eduardo Guillen of the municipality of Piddig in Ilocos Norte province. Bail was set at P72,000 per count.

Guillen had supposedly taken offense at a commentary posted on Carbonell’s YouTube channel accusing him of living a luxurious lifestyle beyond the means of an ordinary public servant, Carbonell’s wife Jennifer Maquilan told the Inquirer.

Maquilan noted that the men had not read him his Miranda rights and that he was just told that he was going to be arrested.

She immediately recorded the incident on Facebook live as the arresting officers implored Carbonell to come with them while he questioned why the warrant was issued on a Sunday.

In the video, he could be heard telling the arresting officers that he would rather be shot dead right there than go with them.

The couple are both still in Camp Crame as of Sunday night, since Carbonell had yet to raise the amount needed for bail.

Fiery, colorful

Maquilan tearfully implored her husband’s supporters for help and urged them to “be reminded of Ka Waldy’s example: that it is better to always fight for our country and not to stay silent no matter the cost.”

Carbonell, a longtime journalist and political commentator, is known for his fiery, sometimes colorful commentary. He was the journalist that had set a Chinese flag ablaze in front of the Chinese Embassy to condemn them for encroaching on Philippine waters.

In 2003, Carbonell flew to Davao as part of a National Press Club (NPC) team wanting to investigate the murder of fellow broadcaster Jun Pala. The move apparently infuriated then Davao City Mayor Duterte, who challenged Carbonell to a duel near the Davao City Hall at 9 a.m. the next day.

Flanked by his fellow media men, Carbonell showed up the next day on time while Duterte was a no-show.

Guaranteed freedom

Carbonell’s arrest came a day after Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles gave assurances that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would uphold press freedom.

In a brief post on the Office of the Press Secretary’s official Facebook page on Saturday night, Angeles said she was reiterating Marcos’ “vow” that “the government will uphold press freedom.”

“You’re free to talk. We’re not changing anything. Whatever freedom we have now will always be our freedom. Our Constitution guarantees that,” Angeles said.

Her office has yet to comment on Carbonell’s arrest as of press time.

Last Thursday, Angeles said in a speech after the oath-taking ceremony in Malacañang of newly elected officers of the NPC that press freedom was guaranteed in the present administration and that the government would work closely with media organizations.

In a brief interview with the government-run Philippine News Agency, Angeles said the Palace would ensure constant healthy dialogue, especially during instances when the reportage becomes critical of the government.

She reiterated the president’s vow that the government would ensure that the rights of journalists in the country are upheld and protected.

Marcos has often said that he would be open to dissent and criticism, especially from mainstream media.

Angeles said that proof of the president’s support to the media was when the chief executive himself administered the oath-taking of the newly elected officers of the NPC, one of the oldest and biggest media organizations in the Philippines.

—WITH A REPORT FROM JEROME ANING 

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