A criminal complaint filed against veteran journalist Marchel Espina over an opinion article has drawn condemnation from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), which warned that the case could intimidate journalists and undermine press freedom.
The NUJP on Friday, July 17, criticized the filing of an unjust vexation case against Espina, one of its national directors and former editor-in-chief of SunStar Cebu, over an article published in December 2024.
The journalists’ group said the complaint should not only be viewed as a case against Espina but also as an issue affecting media practitioners who report and comment on matters of public interest.
“The filing of charges against Espina is clearly meant to intimidate her and the media community,” the NUJP said.
The complaint was filed by a local leader of a religious group who took issue with the opinion article published while Espina was heading SunStar Cebu’s editorial operations.
The NUJP called for the dismissal of the charges, saying criminal complaints against journalists in relation to their work may create a chilling effect on media freedom.
“Any group or individual engaging in obvious political activities should not be onion-skinned when subjected to public scrutiny,” the group said.
The organization also questioned the handling of the case, saying Espina only learned about an arrest warrant issued by a Batangas court two days before she voluntarily surrendered.
According to the NUJP, Espina was not notified of the complaint and was not given the opportunity to submit a counter-affidavit before prosecutors elevated the case to court.
Espina voluntarily surrendered and said she would face the allegations through the proper judicial process.
She said the case highlights concerns over the filing of criminal complaints against journalists and editors over their professional work, which could discourage journalists from performing their duties.
“Journalists and editors should never be intimidated or silenced for carrying out their professional duties in good faith,” Espina said.
She added that while individuals have the right to seek legal remedies, these processes should not be used to discourage independent journalism and reporting on issues of public interest.
Photo courtesy of Poynter
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