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MANILA, Philippines – A journalist from the alternative news site Manila Today was arrested Thursday, media organizations National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) confirmed.
Information published by NUJP on its Facebook page showed that Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem was “among those arrested” in operations carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday morning, December 10, which it also coincides with World Human Rights Day. .
Salem’s Manila Today is part of NUJP, while also being the communications officer for IAWRT.
NUJP added that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested Salem at his home in Mandaluyong.
“Manila Today journalist and editor, Lady Ann Salem, was among those arrested in a wave of arrests by the Philippine National Police (PNP) this morning. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Salem at his home in the city of Mandaluyong at approximately 9 am this morning, ”NUJP said.
“The police have not yet released details of the charges against the journalist,” they added.
[URGENT ALERT] Journalist Arrested by Police Manila Today journalist and editor Lady Ann Salem was among those arrested …Posted by National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Wednesday December 9, 2020
Meanwhile, IAWRT uploaded a photo of Salem inside a white vehicle after his arrest.
“Philippine journalist Lady Ann Salem was arrested at her home this morning, International Human Rights Day. His colleagues learned of a ‘raid’ on his home in Mandaluyong at 9:00 am, ”IAWRT said.
“Icy, as she referred to friends and colleagues, is the editor of the alternative press Manila Today and sits as a communications officer for the International Association of Women in Radio and Television,” she added.
URGENT ALERT: Philippine journalist Lady Ann Salem was arrested at her home this morning, International Human Rights Day….
Posted by International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines on Wednesday December 9, 2020
Meanwhile, NUJP condemned the police for arresting Salem, of every day, on International Human Rights Day.
Manila Today is one of the alternative news sites tagged by government officials, including those of the controversial National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Insurgency (NTF-ELCAC) as part of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“The [NUJP] condemns the arrest of our colleague, Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem, and demands her immediate release. We are also outraged that the authorities decided to seize Icy, as it is known to his family and colleagues, on International Human Rights Day, ”NUJP said in a separate statement.
“The arrest violates a long-standing agreement between the Philippine National Police and the media on the arrest of journalists […] The arrest of Icy is proof that this administration is determined to silence the independent and critical Filipino media to manipulate the flow of information to the detriment of our people and our democracy, ”he added. [ac]
[Statement] Free Lady Ann Salem! Defend Press Freedom! Defend democracy! The National Union of Journalists of …Posted by National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Wednesday December 9, 2020
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