Manases Carpio
LAWYER Dino de Leon, legal counsel for veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr., confirmed Monday that Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, is the complainant behind the cyberlibel case that led to his client’s arrest over the weekend.
De Leon said his law firm obtained a copy of the information filed before the Regional Trial Court in Davao City, naming Carpio as the party who brought the complaint. The case stems from a March 6, 2026 Facebook post attributed to Lustre that raised questions about Carpio’s alleged receipt of ₱300 million in connection with a Marine Corps operation.
Lustre was arrested Saturday in Quezon City shortly after leaving a media forum, and was released later that same day after posting bail of ₱48,000.
Speaking on the program Headstart, de Leon denounced the circumstances surrounding the arrest, describing it as having “come like a thief in the night.” He emphasized that Lustre had no prior knowledge of the case against him, and noted that the address listed on the arrest warrant was not the journalist’s actual residence — raising serious questions about whether notices during the preliminary investigation were properly served. “He was never given the chance to answer the complaint,” de Leon asserted.
The lawyer also warned that arresting a journalist in full view of his press colleagues sends a chilling effect across the media community, potentially discouraging other writers from reporting on matters of public interest. De Leon’s team is preparing a motion to quash the warrant, citing alleged defects in due process. No official statement has yet been issued by Carpio’s legal camp in response to the allegations.
metrosundaily
