VETERAN journalist and author Philip Lustre Jr. walked free from detention on Saturday after posting bail of ₱48,000 in connection with a cyberlibel warrant issued by a Davao court, according to a report from dzBB Super Radyo’s Olan Bola.
A video shared by Bola on the social media platform X showed Lustre at the police station alongside his legal counsel, holding up his official release documents as confirmation of his temporary liberty. The development comes just days after the 72‑year‑old writer was arrested shortly after attending the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, an arrest that has drawn widespread concern from media groups and press freedom advocates.
Lustre’s legal team, led by Atty. Dino De Leon, secured the bail amount after navigating logistical hurdles in obtaining certified copies of the case documents from the originating court in Davao. The defense has signaled it will file a motion to quash the arrest warrant, arguing that Lustre was deprived of due process during the preliminary investigation stage because no subpoena or notice was ever served on him. “I will fight this. I will not back down,” Lustre has stated, maintaining his innocence and reserving the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies to clear his name.
The National Press Club and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) have both issued statements calling for full respect of Lustre’s rights and urging clarity on why he was not notified of the complaint earlier. The case has reignited public debate over the use of cyberlibel laws against journalists, with press freedom groups emphasizing that legal processes should never be used to silence critical voices. Further proceedings are expected in the Davao court as the defense moves to dismiss the case.
metrosundaily
