MANILA, Philippines —Police arrested on Saturday morning veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. for cyber libel following a warrant issued by a Davao City court.
Lustre, a long-time political journalist and columnist, was collared by lawmen from the Kamuning Police Station (PS-10) at a restaurant where he was attending the regular "Saturday News Forum" hosted by fellow former and active journalists.
Also the author of the investigative book ‘Kill, kill, kill’ which highlights the war on drugs under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Lustre said he was unaware of any case filed against him.
It was obviously a political harassment, said Lustre on the case which was said to have been initiated by the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The QCPD said the arrest stemmed from a violation of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which covers cyber libel.
Lawyer Dino de Leon, who was also a guest at the news forum, stepped in as Lustre's legal counsel.
Appealing for humanitarian consideration citing Lustre's senior citizen status, de Leon said they would file for bail to secure his immediate release.
Lustre's arrest comes a day after Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte filed libel and cyber libel complaints against the National Bureau of Investigation and executives and journalists of a TV network.