Filipina journalist Lady Ann Salem was arrested by authorities at her residence in Mandaluyong City on Thursday as the country celebrates International Human Rights Day, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said.
Salem works as the editor of Manila Today and the communications officer of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT).
“Her colleagues have learned of a “raid” in her Mandaluyong house at 9:00 a.m. Salem was later found at the Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group facility of the Philippine police,” said IAWRT in a Facebook post.
The journalist was later found at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) facility.
IAWRT also posted a photo of Salem inside a white unmarked vehicle. A relative who allegedly searched for her took the picture.
The NUJP condemned Lady Ann Salem’s arrest and demanded authorities to release her immediately.
“We are further outraged that authorities chose to seize Icy, as she is known to kin and colleagues, on International Human Rights Day,” it said in a separate tweet.
Filipina journalist Lady Ann Salem arrested
“The arrest violates a long-standing agreement between the Philippine National Police and media organizations on the arrest of journalists,” it later added.
The group added Salem’s arrest proves the Duterte administration is “bent on silencing the independent and critical Philippine media” to manipulate the flow of information.
“We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists to close ranks and demand a stop to the repression of media. We will hold accountable anyone who subjects Icy to any abuse and violation of her rights,” it said.
Aside from Lady Ann Salem, police forces arrested activist workers’ organizer Dennise Velasco yesterday on International Human Rights Day.
According to the group Defend Jobs Philippines, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested Dennise Velasco at 2 am after being issued a search warrant by Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert.
Dennise Velasco is known for his campaign against contractualization and labor disputes in companies such as PLDT, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Regent Foods Corporation, Super 8, and Pepsi, etc.