Carlo S.

Loyola Introduction to Broadcasting

BACR 3-2 Prof. Kriztine Viray

The Mistaken Arrest of Margarita “Gingging” Valle: A Case Study

On 9th of June 2019, Davao-based journalist Margarita Valle was straightaway arrested by
soldiers and cops in Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, indicting her for charges of multiple
murder with quadruple frustrated murder, destruction of government property, and arson. Fedelina
Margarita Avellanosa Valle has been reporting about Mindanao for more than 30 years and also involved
in community development with non-profit organizations that mainly focuses on peace development and
environmental protection. She is one of brave journalists who courageously critique the Duterte
Administartion and human rights violations of the state forces in Mindanao that is currently under the
Martial Law. The columnist was nabbed due to the issued closely decade-old arrest warrant that was
supposed for the fugitive Elsa Renton who happens to use the aliases Tina Maglaya and Fedelina
Margarita Valle—a presumed member of the Communist Party of the Philippines according to the
Philippine National Philippines. As reported by the Inquirer, Valle just came from the Airport together
with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City, and was arrested immediately
while waiting for her flight to Davao City (Agonoy et al., 2019). The journalist was took by cops and
soldiers to the Iligan City police station and then later went to Camp Abelon in Pagadian City, where she
was imprisoned for twelve (12) hours and had only glimpsed on the written name on her mistaken warrant
which she was not given a chance to read too. Valle also recalled that during her arrest the authorities did
not informed her where they are headed and deprived her for the liberty to call for a lawyer or to anyone.
The veteran journalist was later freed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
(CIDG) with the coordination of Commission on Human Right Rights (CHR) in Zamboanga City after a
witness affirmed that Margarita Valle has a “major resemblance” to the actual subject of arrest warrant—
Elsa Renton. After Margarita Valle was discharged, the Philippine National Police released a statement
and claimed that the case was “mistaken identity”, appealed that the authorities detained a wrong person
and Margarita was not the fugitive that they were looking for. On the other hand, a month after the
mistaken arrest the columnist filed a several complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman against the cops
from Philippines National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army.
The mistaken arrest of the 61 year-old journalist Margarita Valle is an attempt of the
authorities to show a clear attack in silencing and threatening the practitioners of media, which could
boils down to put in jeopardize the Press freedom. The case of Valle adds to the numbers of harassments
and attacks that the members of press experienced since the Duterte administration has started. Even
before, countless unfair treatment to the media men have been recorded and the amounts of violated basic
rights as human and as a media practitioners had also logged an increase range. Thus, for Margarita Valle,
her basic human rights was violated the moment that the CIDG agents arrested her immediately without
showing the full details and the purpose of the warrant. This action illustrates the negligence on the
importance of due process and disregarding the legal process in arresting a criminal. Indicating that
Margarita is a bold critique of the administration, this could be a reason why the police purposely abduct
in hours the journalist and acted later that they captured a wrong person after reaching the police station.
 In times of vast red-tagging and persecution, it is outrageous to see the unjust treatment and
double standard behavior of authorities in capturing the criminals. It is saddening that even the people
who has power to influence and inform public can be a subject by the authorities to vehemently violate
their human rights. The repression in media can cause a frightening reaction to ordinary individual, where
it shows that if people who has a capacity to defend themselves can be threatened by those who supposed
to keep the public in safe what more for those who are vulnerable and incapable of protection. Just
imagine where it could lead if the authorities continue to do this dirty job to any individual and keep
telling that the Philippines is still a democratic country. Hence, the decision of Valle in filing complaints
against the cops who instantly imprisoned her was just right and reasonable to be served as immediately
just like how the authorities impulsively accused and harassed their victims. Even the Philippine National
Police (PNP) reiterate to public that the happened arrest to the columnist was mistaken identity, they can
never exclude the idea to the media group that it was their way to monger fear, repress the media, and to
silence the voice who gap the bridge for those unheard. For over the years media has been at risk yet still
continue to fight for the just, and as the current administration remain to red-tag and classify media with
colors, one cannot tell that if people are still living in the free country.
The case of Margarita Valle was not different from the other journalists and media
practitioners who experienced the same violation on their human rights. Despite the police forces patently
spread fear for those who express dissents and expose the incompetency of the government, media will
remain to stand firm and will continue to report a factual and timely news, as it is their sworn duty to the
public. As the press freedom are being attacked, it is not the time to be frightened, but rather it is the time
to show moxie and courage to influence people, turning the small actions into big one as we fight for
bigger purposes of the country. Through the help of media in condemning the malicious acts of
authorities and the demand for the fair system for everyone, it is the duty now of the public to defend
them too as they both live interconnectedly in a society.
REFERENCES:

https://www.rappler.com/nation/margarita-valle-statement-mistaken-arrest-by-police
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1128346/cidg-frees-journalist-admitting-case-of-mistaken-identity
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2019/7/4/Margarita-Valles-files-charges-police-military-
mistaken-identity.html
https://www.rappler.com/nation/pnp-arrest-davao-today-columnist-margarita-valle-mistaken-identity
https://coconuts.co/manila/news/journalist-margarita-valle-files-complaint-against-cops-who-mistakenly-
arrested-her/
https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ph-police-free-journalist-she-020158177.html
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1353721/ombudsman-drops-charges-vs-pnp-afp-personnel-over-mistaken-
arrest-of-davao-journo
https://www.preda.org/2019/rights-media-groups-slam-arrest-of-filipino-journalist
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/06/new-weapon-against-press-freedom-philippines
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/threats-attacks-philippines-media-timeline
https://cpj.org/data/killed/asia/philippines/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&type
%5B%5D=Journalist&cc_fips%5B%5D=RP&start_year=1992&end_year=2021&group_by=location
https://www.rappler.com/nation/over-100-attacks-vs-journalists-duterte-assumed-office