Seasoned journalist released after bail submission by her publisher

Location: Philippines, Ormoc
Date: July 5, 2024

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of veteran journalist Josie Serseña, who was detained for not attending a court hearing as a witness in an anti-drug operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). While Serseña was released later that evening, her arrest highlights the undue burden placed on journalists in the Philippines, who are increasingly forced to participate in law enforcement activities as witnesses—a practice long criticized by press freedom advocates. Not appearing as a witness is not a crime, and Serseña’s arrest reflects the unjust treatment of the press in the country. Women Press Freedom calls for a transparent investigation into Serseña’s arrest and an immediate end to the cynical practice of targeting journalists simply for performing their duties and reporting the news.

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Josie Serseña, a radio broadcaster and reporter for the Eastern Visayas Mail, was arrested at her home on July 5, 2024 in Barangay Kagao-han after a bench warrant was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 in Ormoc.

The warrant was based on a motion filed by prosecutor Erwin Fabriga, stemming from Serseña’s role as a witness in a PDEA buy-bust operation in April 2022. Despite having testified in the case, Serseña stated that she did not receive any summons regarding the hearing scheduled for June 27, 2024, and that she was not informed by the PDEA lawyer. Nonetheless, she was served an arrest warrant.

Serseña was told by court personnel that the summons had been sent to her on June 13. Upon being taken into custody, the police subjected her to the indignity of having her mugshots and fingerprints taken and insisted that she remove all her clothes for a medical examination. After enduring 10 hours in detention, Serseña was released after her employer posted bail.

Serseña’s case is far from isolated. Journalists in the Philippines have faced systematic harassment and mistreatment at the hands of authorities, particularly those who report on sensitive issues such as drug related crime. One of the most notable examples of press freedom violations in the country is the case of Maria Ressa, the co-founder of Rappler, who has faced numerous legal challenges, including a shutdown order against her news outlet. Although a court recently reversed the shutdown order in a significant victory for press freedom, Ressa and Rappler continue to battle arbitrary charges.

The Philippines is currently ranked 134th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, a testament to the severe press freedom violations that have persisted, particularly under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Despite the end of Duterte’s tyrannical rule, the situation for independent media in the country remains precarious. His successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., must take concrete steps to reverse the damage inflicted on the press and safeguard the rights of journalists.

The unjust treatment of Josie Serseña serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines, who are often harassed and intimidated for simply doing their jobs. In a democratic society, journalists must be able to perform their duties without fear of persecution or retribution. Women Press Freedom calls on the Philippine authorities to cease the practice of involving journalists in law enforcement operations and to respect their safety and independence. The judiciary must also ensure that the rights of journalists are upheld in all legal proceedings.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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