Former SunStar Cebu and SunStar Bacolod Editor-in-Chief Marchel Espina who voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Friday morning, July 17, in connection with an unjust vexation case has been freed on bail.
A leader of a religious group filed an unjust vexation case against Espina and several others before a Batangas court over an opinion piece written by a contributor and published by Sunstar Cebu in December 2024.
At the time of the incident, Espina was the editor-in-chief of the media outfit.
Espina surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Negros Island Region in Bacolod City and posted a bail of ₱6,000.
She was accompanied by her legal counsel, Abegail Bayona.
Espina said she is fully cooperating with the legal process and issued a brief statement following her surrender.
“I am voluntarily surrendering today because I respect the rule of law and the legal process. I intend to answer the allegations through the proper judicial channels,” Espina said.
She explained that the case involves an opinion article published in 2024 during her tenure as the editor-in-chief of SunStar Cebu.
“As a journalist, I believe this case raises important concerns about the use of criminal complaints against journalists and editors in relation to their work. I also believe it has a chilling effect on press freedom,” Espina said.
“Journalists and editors should never be intimidated or silenced for carrying out their professional duties in good faith. While every person has the right to seek legal remedies, the legal process should never be used to discourage independent journalism and reporting in the public interest,” she added.
Espina emphasized her continued commitment to responsible journalism and the defense of press freedom.
NUJP in a statement Friday condemned the filing of criminal charges against Espina who is one of its directors.
Espina was not afforded due process as she only learned about the warrant of arrest issued by a Batangas court two days ago, NUJP said.
Espina, who is based in Bacolod City, had not been notified of the complaint, and was not able to file a counter affidavit, it said.
“This is not the first time that leaders of the said religious group filed charges against journalists expressing critical views on the religious group’s ties with an influential political dynasty. Any group or individual engaging in obvious political activities should not be onion-skinned when subjected to public scrutiny,” NUJP said.
Journalists report on matters of public interest, including supposed religious activities in support of certain politicians, it added.
“The filing of criminal charges against truth-tellers has been a weapon of choice by the powers that be”, NUJP said, as it called for the dismissal of the charges against Espina.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines – Negros Island Region also called for the immediate dismissal of the charges against Espina and her co-respondents.
“We likewise demand an end to all forms of attacks against journalists and the press, including the weaponization of criminal laws and other legal provisions used to harass media workers for exercising their profession,” it said.*
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