Politics · Philippines Bureau
Carpio camp says Inquirer address given in good faith for journalist's arrest
The attorney for Vice President Sara Duterte's husband says he provided the Philippine Daily Inquirer's office address as a last known residence in good faith when questioned about veteran journalist Philip Lustre's whereabouts. The explanation comes after Lustre's arrest on cyberlibel charges raised questions about how authorities located him.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Atty. Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, supplied the Philippine Daily Inquirer's office address as Philip Lustre's last known residence in good faith, according to Carpio's spokesperson Atty. Neil Abayon on Thursday.
Lustre, a veteran journalist, was arrested last Saturday in connection with a cyberlibel charge. The arrest drew scrutiny as Lustre had not reportedly received formal notification of a complaint prior to his apprehension.
Abayon's statement represents the first formal explanation from Carpio's camp regarding the address provided to authorities in connection with the arrest warrant. The circumstances surrounding how law enforcement identified Lustre's location have become a focal point in discussions about the case.
The incident has renewed attention to concerns about arrest procedures and due process protections for individuals facing online libel allegations. Legal experts and press freedom advocates have raised questions about whether proper procedures were followed in Lustre's case.