Broadcaster facing libel charge posts bail

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—Broadcaster Albert Loyola walked out of the city jail here on Tuesday after posting bail in connection with the libel charge that a councilor had filed against him.

Loyola was released at 4:30 p.m. on the strength of an order issued by Judge Leonor Quiñones of the Regional Trial Court branch 6 after he posted bail of P10,000, according to city jail warden Senior Inspector Albert Jalagat.

He said Loyola was fetched by his lawyer, Vermin Quimco, of the Call For Justice group.

The broadcaster from radio dxRJ was picked up by a police team on Monday after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condemned the arrest as “a clear case of media harassment especially since the libel complaint was filed by Councilor Chonilo Ruiz, who himself was the subject of Loyola’s complaint for attempted homicide after the latter attacked Loyola January last year.”

After he filed charges against Ruiz, the councilor sued for libel because Loyola allegedly repeatedly called him a liar over his program at dxRJ here last year.

In his program, Loyola questioned the expenditures incurred by the city council’s committee on health and environment, which Ruiz chaired.

In his explanation, Ruiz said the funds being questioned were spent on the conduct of public hearing and snacks for participants.

But Loyola, citing information he received, said Ruiz was lying because nothing was served during the consultations. “Not even toothpicks,” he said.

Loyola’s suit was later downgraded by the Regional State Prosecutor’s Office to slight physical injuries.

“A journalist who is only demanding transparency on how the budget of the city council was spent is himself being put to jail,” Quimco had earlier said, adding that the ordeal was “tragic and ironic.”

Loyola said he had some good experiences in jail though. He said some inmates, who listened to his program, lent him clothes when they found out he did not bring anything when he was arrested Monday.

“I was even given a toothbrush and some toothpaste,” he said.

Loyola expressed gratitude to the NUJP for helping him raise the bond required by the court for his temporary liberty.