We in the Altermidya Network reiterate our call to drop the fabricated charges against community journalist Anne Krueger. We express our concern over the Bacolod City regional trial court’s denial of the motion to quash search warrant today, Dec. 7.

Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert, who has been criticized for issuing a series of questionable warrants against numerous activists, issued the search warrant in Quezon City.

Anne Krueger, a correspondent for Negros-based community media outfit Paghimutad-Negros and also an organizer of call-center workers, is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms together with peasant leader Danilo Tabura. They were arrested in October 2019 with 57 other individuals during the crackdown on activists in Negros. Anne is currently out on bail.

Minutes before her arrest, Anne did a live video on Facebook reporting that firearms were being placed by authorities conducting the raid. The firearms will later serve as supposed evidence for the charges.

Anne’s lawyers have filed a motion to quash the questionable search warrant, asserting that the warrant has no probable cause, indicated a different address, and was issued outside Judge Villavert’s jurisdiction. They also argued that the police and military failed to comply with the rules of a proper search. Various courts already quashed other search warrants issued by Villavert against activists due to their defects and deficiencies.

However, the Bacolod City regional trial court insisted that the search warrant was valid and enforceable. Her lawyers have now filed a motion for reconsideration regarding the court’s decision.

We assert that the charges against Anne violate press freedom and the right to free expression. With no other case to throw against her and other activists, Anne is charged with fabricated cases restricting her from doing her work as a community journalist and labor organizer.

We call on our colleagues and fellow community journalists to join us in demanding the junking of all charges against Anne Krueger and Tabura.

Drop the fabricated charges against journalists! Defend press freedom!