Jailed Iligan broadcaster gains temporary freedom

ILIGAN CITY — Detained Iligan City broadcaster Albert Loyola of dxRJ radio gained temporary liberty Tuesday afternoon after Judge Leonor S. Quiñones of Regional Trial Court Branch 6 here issued a release order. Loyola was finally ordered released from the Iligan Reformatory Center around 4:30 p.m., after the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) paid the P10,000 bail bond. Loyola was accompanied by his legal counsel lawyer Vermin Quimco of the Call For Justice, a non-government organization based here that provides free legal assistance to poor clients. In an interview, Loyola said his co-inmates, who were avid listeners of his radio program, lent him an extra T-shirt, a pair of short pants and gave him a toothbrush and toothpaste as he had none of these personal belongings when he was arrested last Monday. "Maayo kaayo sila nako ug ila pud nga gi suguilon sa usa ka panagtigum ang ilang kasinatia-an nganong na preso sila (They were so kind to me and they also shared to me their stories why they are in jail)," Loyola said. Loyola thanked the NUJP for producing the bail bond. For her part, Rowena Paraan, NUJP Secretary General, said "Ang pagka kulong ni Albert Loyola ay isa ding intimidation sa kasong isinampa niya nang sya'y binugbog sa loob nga radio station announcers booth. Ang pangyayari ay may chilling effect sa lahat ng media practitioners at sana di na ito ma ulit muli at dapat lang syang tullungan sa sitwasyong ito." (The arrest and detention of Albert Loyola is a form of intimidation stemming from a case he filed over his mauling inside the radio station announcers booth. His arrest has a chilling effect among media practitioners and this should not happen again. Loyola deserves to be given assistance.) An article on a local news site Bisaya talks.com said Loyola was arrested for two libel cases filed by Iligan City Councilor Chonilo Ruiz. He was picked up by members of the Philippine National Police-Regional Intelligence Division and the City Investigation and Detective Management Branch at the dxRJ radio station after his program at about 8 a.m. Monday. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News