Publisher nabbed for libel (5:25 p.m.)
MANILA — Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday arrested a publisher of a newspaper critical of the Arroyo government for a libel charge.
Amado “Jake” Macasaet of the Malaya newspaper was supposed to be picked up at the paper’s office in Port Area in Malaya on the morning but Macasaet requested the policemen to allow him go to the Century Park Hotel in Manila to attend a meeting.
From the hotel at around 12 noon, Macasaet was brought to the CIDG office in Camp Crame for “processing.” As of 3 p.m., he was being brought to the Makati City Regional Trial Court, which issued the warrant of arrest for Macasaet.
The court ordered the arrest of Macasaet based on the libel case filed by former Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares and Narciso Santiago — husband of administration Senator Miriam Santiago.
The court has set a P10,000 bail for the temporary freedom of Macasaet, who is expected to post the bail after he is presented to the court by the police. (VR/Sunnex)
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