ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo Media-Citizen Council (IMCC) renewed the call for ethical journalism following the recent conviction for cyber libel of broadcast journalist Salvador “Jun” Capulot Jr.
“The struggle for press freedom must go hand-in-hand with a deep commitment to ethical journalism,” the IMCC said.
The Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 39 found Capulot guilty of three counts of cyber libel on May 15.
Capulot was convicted for on air comments against a contractor in the island-province of Guimaras in 2020.
In three separate broadcasts, Capulot described the contractor as “corrupt” and claimed that he using illegal drugs.
While the IMCC is pushing to decriminalize libel with civil remedies, it considered Capulot’s convictions as a “cautionary moment” for the media.
“The right to report and comment freely comes with the equal burden of upholding the highest ethical standards of journalism — accuracy, fairness, verification, and responsibility,” the IMCC said.
“We encourage fellow journalists to review their editorial practices, ensure adherence to professional codes of conduct, and distinguish clearly between factual reporting and opinion-based commentary,” the IMCC added.