(UPDATE) Malaya publisher ‘arrested’ over libel case, posts bail

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — A court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Malaya newspaper publisher Amado "Jake" Macasaet in connection with a libel suit filed by former Rizal provincial governor Casimiro Ynares Jr nine years ago. He posted bail later for his temporary liberty. Macasaet was at the Malaya office along Bonifacio Drive in Manila's Port Area when operatives of the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) served the arrest warrant, one of the newspaper's editors said. The arrest warrant was issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 36. Macasaet paid a P10,000 bail bond for his temporary freedom. Before posting bail, Macasaet said in a brief interview by cell phone that the police officers who served the arrest warrant treated him well. He said he asked to be allowed to take his lunch first at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel and the officers granted his request. “I’ll issue a statement after posting bail," he said, without discussing what the case was all about. Malaya editor Minnie Cadeliña-Advincula said the arrest warrant stemmed from the libel suit filed by former governor Ynares against Macasaet over a series of articles written by the veteran journalist in March and April of 1999 in Malaya and its Filipino-language sister publication Abante. “The stories pertain to the fight between two cockfighting groups, one of which was headed by Ynares," Advincula told GMANews.TV. She said Ynares was the head then of the National Cockers Association while Macasaet belonged to the United Cockers Association of the Philippines or UCAP. “The gist of Mr. Macasaet’s stories was that Governor Ynares took advantage of his public position for private purposes," Advincula said. One of the articles claimed that Ynares pressured the mayor of Pasig City to cancel a permit issued to UCAP for a scheduled derby, she said. The Ynares who filed the libel case is the father of the incumbent governor, Casimiro Ynares III. Advincula said the arrest warrant came as a surprise. “We were told by Mr. Macasaet’s lawyers from the Tan, Acut and Lopez law firm that they have not received any notice from prosecutors that the case has been elevated to the court," she said. - GMANews.TV