Radio reporter arrested, jailed for 10-yr-old libel

A radio reporter in Bicol was arrested and jailed this week over a 10-year-old libel case, dzRH radio reported Thursday. Jun Alegre, a correspondent of dzRH radio, was transferred to the Legazpi City Jail from the local police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office Wednesday afternoon. "Nalungkot siya. Ang pakiusap sa akin, ang pamilya niya huwag pabayaan (He is very sad. He asked me to help take care of his family)," Legazpi City mayor Noel Rosal, a "compadre" of Alegre, said in an interview on dzRH radio Thursday morning. Rosal said even he is puzzled over why the arrest order for Alegre was implemented "only now," or more than 10 years after the case was lodged against him. The case allegedly involves a complaint by a board member of the Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) against Alegre. No other details of the case were immediately available. "Libel niya 10 years ago, local radio station siya pa noon ... Pinagtataka ko lang, bakit ngayon lang (The libel case was 10 years ago, when he was working for a local radio station. I cannot understand why it was resurrected only now)," Rosal said. Rosal also said that while libel is a bailable offense, Alegre already waived his right to it when he appealed the case. "Nag-appeal si Jun sa taas. May waiver, pwede ka maging probation kung 5 years and below. Noong appeal niya, waived na iyan (Jun appealed the case, and in doing so, waived his right to post bail)," he said. He said Alegre's family has "accepted" his fate. "Wala silang magagawa (They cannot do anything about it)," he said. - GMANews.TV