Recall of arrest warrants vs Masbate journalists lauded

MANILA, Philippines —  A Masbate court’s decision to recall the warrants issued for the arrest of two local journalists has been lauded by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).

In an Aug. 6 resolution, Judge Teofilo Tambago of the Masbate Regional Trial Court Branch 49 granted the motion to recall filed by Benjamin Gigante, Jay Alfaro and other radio broadcasters.

“We commend Judge Tambago for granting the motion filed by the media workers in the interest of due process,” PTFoMS executive director Paul Gutierrez said. “This reprieve granted by the court is also a triumph for the rule of law.”

Tambago also ordered a preliminary investigation into the murder complaint filed against the media workers.

Gigante, Alfaro, Bernie Naraja and Reymund Dosdos were accused of being communist rebels allegedly behind the April 6 killing of Richard Bauso in Cawayan town.

The defendants argued that they were not granted a preliminary probe as they never received a subpoena.

Gutierrez reminded Masbate provincial prosecutor Jeremias Mapula that the PTFoMS is chaired by the justice secretary, “with the support of attached agencies of the Department of Justice, including the National Prosecution Service, of which you are a part of.”