A broadcaster of radio station DZRH was arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday, March 11, over an alleged violation of the Data Privacy Act stemming from his report involving a Manila councilor.
Misael “Boy” Gonzales Jr. was apprehended by police authorities at around 10:50am outside the Department of Justice (DOJ) along Padre Faura Street in Manila, according to a report by DZRH.
MPD spokesperson Police Major Philipp Ines confirmed that Gonzales is currently under police custody as of writing. Authorities said the case filed against the broadcaster is bailable.
The arrest was based on a warrant issued following a complaint filed by Manila 1st District Councilor Rosalino Ibay Jr., who accused Gonzales of violating Section 25 of Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Gonzales’ lawyer, Rhina Seco, said the complaint stemmed from the broadcaster’s alleged publication of a copy of Ibay’s warrant of arrest.
The National Press Club (NPC) said the warrant against Ibay involved “allegations of lascivious conduct involving a minor.”
According to the NPC, a separate complaint earlier filed against Gonzales under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 had already been dismissed by a court due to insufficient evidence.
The organization said the dismissal affirmed that Gonzales based his report on official court records.
Media groups have raised concerns that the arrest could have broader implications for press freedom.
In a statement, the NPC warned that Gonzales’ arrest, which stemmed from reporting on official documents, could create a “potential chilling effect” on journalists covering matters of public interest.
“The NPC calls on authorities to ensure that due process is strictly observed and that the constitutional guarantees protecting freedom of the press are upheld,” the group said.
“Journalists must be able to perform their duty of informing the public without fear of intimidation or undue legal harassment, particularly when reporting on issues of legitimate public interest,” it added.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also defended the broadcaster, saying Gonzales’ report on the case involving Ibay was clearly a matter of public interest.
“This is not the first time that the Data Privacy Act, which recognizes exceptions for journalistic work, has been used to intimidate, harass, or retaliate against media workers,” the NUJP said.
The group also warned that the law is increasingly being used in so-called “lawfare” cases to discourage critical reporting.
“While the security of personal information is important, the DPA is also commonly used to deny media workers access to information essential to their work and for ‘lawfare’ suits to deter or punish coverage,” the NUJP added.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.