Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Marchel Espina, Facebook

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784447647954MArchel-Espina-Cropped.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Bacolod-based journalist Marchel Espina holds up a court order granting her temporary liberty after she posted bail for an unjust vexation case stemming from a complaint filed by a local leader of a religious group. Marchel Espina, Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bacolod-based journalist Marchel Espina holds up a court order granting her temporary liberty after she posted bail for an unjust vexation case stemming from a complaint filed by a local leader of a religious group. Marchel Espina, Facebook</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Multiple media groups have condemned unjust vexation raps against Bacolod-based journalist Marchel Espina and other journalists over an opinion piece criticizing an influential religious group.</p><p>A local leader of Iglesia ni Cristo in Batangas filed the complaint over an opinion article published by SunStar Cebu in December 2024, when Espina was the newspaper&#x27;s editor-in-chief. </p><p>Espina previously served as editor-in-chief of SunStar Bacolod.</p><p>The community journalist surrendered to regional police the morning of July 17 and was granted temporary liberty on bail in the afternoon.</p><p>Espina said she did not receive a subpoena directing her to file a counter-affidavit before the case was filed in a Batangas court. She said she surrendered two days after learning about the warrant against her.</p><p>Espina condemned the use of criminal complaints against journalists and editors, saying it has a chilling effect on press freedom.</p><p>“Journalists and editors should never be intimidated or silenced for carrying out their professional duties in good faith,” she said.</p><p>&quot;Court litigation, even if the charge is only unjust vexation, more than annoys or vexes. It could be among a hundred cuts, ostensibly lawful, against free press and free speech,&quot; the Cebu Citizens Press Council said. <strong></strong><br/></p><p>The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, where Espina serves as a director, noted that “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/nujphil/posts/pfbid02do7Y6yc4fasVLKmZ3T2xuWaCUAC9NFeKEmEymfZCbLiHzJYKt89SFNHcLSHLjkasl">this is not the first time</a> that leaders of the said religious group filed charges against journalists expressing critical views on the religious group’s ties with an influential political dynasty.”</p><p>It added that groups or individuals “engaging in obvious political activities should not be onion-skinned when subjected to public scrutiny. Journalists report on matters of public interest, including supposed religious activities in support of certain politicians.”</p><p>The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines underscored that the law must not be used <a href="https://www.facebook.com/focapmedia/posts/pfbid0rX3hBdFP6DrCNhVhDCkMuY6q7LMYvetZpJLdTgmHjtE38TeDF1VGfLq3RESVgRJql">“to stifle free speech.”</a></p><p>It said “opinion pieces that are grounded on facts have long been a pillar of journalism and democratic discourse.”</p><p>The AlterMidya network also noted that Espina’s case reflects the “<a href="https://www.altermidya.net/hands-off-marchel-espina-hands-off-community-journalists/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTJUMZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjdlZvSHZtNlNEWXVaRVVlc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkVjloXpMh2q9HEr8Wb0hO0gG3ZfxNVIe9AEWmxr45s2Z_qbsFaod-CzCC3j_aem_cUE7z6-qoYKOEXk06wMERA">dangerous reality”</a> for media workers, especially community journalists who “routinely face legal harassment, red-tagging, surveillance, threats, online attacks, and even deadly violence for exposing corruption, human rights violations, environmental destruction, and other issues affecting marginalized communities.”</p><p>It also recalled the case of another community journalist,<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/22/journalist-frenchie-cumpio-journalist-found-guilty-of-terror-financing-0943"> Frenchie Mae Cumpio</a>, who was accused of terrorism financing and has been detained since 2020.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/15/jailed-filipino-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-honored-by-iwmf-0800">Jailed Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio honored by IWMF</a></div><p>Their cases “[illustrate] how the legal system can be weaponized to silence critical voices,” said Altermidya.</p><p>The network of alternative media outfits stressed: “Disagreement with published content should never become a justification for weaponizing criminal laws against members of the press.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/3/-state-repression-remains-top-threat-to-ph-press-freedom-nujp-says-1101">&#x27;State repression&#x27; remains top threat to PH press freedom, NUJP says</a></div><p>The College Editors Guild of the Philippines urged the court to dismiss the “baseless charges” against Espina and her co-accused, and reiterated its call to decriminalize libel and cyberlibel.</p><p>“Journalism is never a crime. Protecting free speech for justice and accountability is not unjust vexation,” it added.</p><p>The Presidential Task Force on Media Security also expressed support for Espina and her co-accused, saying while the complainant had the right to seek redress, &quot;laws must never be weaponized to suppress journalists from performing their professional duties as truth-tellers and reporting on matters of public concern.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-4Iip9n1lns?si=JRR5juOcyFrYR_MN" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Altermidya noted that Espina’s case reflects the “<a href="https://www.altermidya.net/hands-off-marchel-espina-hands-off-community-journalists/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTJUMZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjdlZvSHZtNlNEWXVaRVVlc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkVjloXpMh2q9HEr8Wb0hO0gG3ZfxNVIe9AEWmxr45s2Z_qbsFaod-CzCC3j_aem_cUE7z6-qoYKOEXk06wMERA">dangerous reality”</a> for media workers, especially community journalists who “routinely face legal harassment, red-tagging, surveillance, threats, online attacks, and even deadly violence."</p>

Altermidya noted that Espina’s case reflects the “ dangerous reality” for media workers, especially community journalists who “routinely face legal harassment, red-tagging, surveillance, threats, online attacks, and even deadly violence."

Media groups slam case vs journalists over opinion piece critical of religious group

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Media groups slam case vs journalists over opinion piece critical of religious group

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 19, 2026 04:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Press freedom

Marchel Espina

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines

Altermidya

College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Cebu Citizens' Press Council

Presidential Task Force on Media Security

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