“FFFJ?”

It’s the same old story. Rather, the same old reaction whenever I’m asked about my work as private prosecutor in media killing cases and I answer, “I’m here as FFFJ legal counsel.”

INSTEAD OF speeding up the quest for justice, legal procedures can be used to delay, and worse, even bring judicial proceedings to a standstill. Petitions for certiorari and prohibition are two of the often abused extraordinary legal remedies in the Philippines.

HIS SUPPOSED commitment to free expression and a free press was part of then Sen. Benigno Aquino III’s announced platform during his campaign for the Philippine presidency. Aquino promised to support and protect the free press, stop the killing of journalists (a widow of an Ampatuan massacre victim even spoke in one of his campaign advertisments), and prosecute the killers. Many media personalities and journalists supported Aquino for the presidency. They believed Aquino would deliver on his promises.

Statement of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) on the 5th anniversary of the  killing of Marlene Esperat FIVE YEARS have passed since Marlene Esperat was killed in Tacurong City in the southern Philippine province of Sultan Kudarat, [...]

The hearing was called to order at 8:30 in the morning. Present in the hearing were State Prosecutors Richard Fadullon and Leo Dacera and private prosecutors Nena Santos, Prima Jesusa Quinsayas, Ma. Gemma Oquendo, and Pete Principe, while Sigfrid Fortun led the counsels for the defense of accused Andal Ampatuan, Jr., who was not present [...]

DATE A TIMELINE OF  EVENTS IN THE MULTIPLE MURDER CASE AGAINST  THE AMPATUANS AND OTHER ALLEGED CONSPIRATORS FOR THE NOVEMBER 23 MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE YEAR 2009 November 26 Datu Andal “Unsay” U. Ampatuan Jr. undergoes Inquest proceedings at the Gen. Santos City airport before being transported to Manila. December 1 The Department of Justice special prosecution [...]