Journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago, who were arrested and charged with possession of firearms late last year, were released from detention on Friday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Friday.
Salem, editor for alternative media group Manila Today, and Esparago were arrested last December 10 along with five activists during a protest on International Human Rights Day.
The NUJP, which described “Icy” Salem’s arrest as an attack on the free press, posted on Twitter photos of the editor and unionist facing the media after their release from the Mandaluyong City Jail.
Earlier, Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio of the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 209 issued the release order after granting the motions filed by the lawyers of Salem and Esparago and junking the prosecution’s opposition.
Salem and Esparago were among those arrested in a series of raids that reportedly yielded loose firearms.
But on Feb. 21, the court ruled there was no probable cause to issue the search warrants that became the basis for the raids.
“Even as we celebrate Icy’s freedom, we continue to denounce those who sought to prolong her detention and call on all members of the Philippine community of independent journalists to strengthen our ranks and resist any and all efforts to stop us from serving the people’s right to know,” the NUJP said.
In a statement, Manila Today said that justice prevailed for the accused.
“Despite the attempt of the government to back their flawed and inconsistent testimonies, the court finds it with utter lack of merit. Thus, it is only right to say that justice has prevailed,” Manila Today said.
The NUJP, meanwhile, called for all journalists and media practitioners to resist the attacks against free press.
