Erwin “Ambo” Delilan, a journalist based in Negros Occidental, was arrested at his home in EB Magalona town on January 19, 2026, by members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). He was charged with unjust vexation, a minor offense under Philippine law.
The arrest warrant, issued on January 12, 2026, by Judge Phoebe Gargantiel-Balbin of the Bacolod Regional Trial Court, did not specify the alleged act constituting the offense.
Delilan, a former president of the Negros Press Club and current manager of radio station Hapi FM in Bacolod City, said he was confused by the charges did not know his accuser or the act he was accused of committing. He spent the night in police custody and was released on bail the following day.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Negros Island Region and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) – Negros Occidental condemned the arrest, calling it harassment aimed at intimidating journalists and restricting press freedom. Media groups raised concern over the late-night execution of the warrant and the lack of due process, warning that such actions create a chilling effect on critical reporting.
Delilan’s arrest highlights the persistent dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines. Three journalists were killed in the Philippines in 2025, contributing to a total of 128 journalist deaths worldwide, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Philippines ranked 9th in the 2024 Global Impunity Index released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), reflecting the high number of unsolved journalist murders over the past decade.
Justice also remains elusive fifteen years after the killing of environmental journalist Gerry Ortega, a vocal critic of corruption and environmentally destructive projects in Palawan. He was shot dead in 2011. Although former Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes was convicted of graft in 2025 over issues Ortega had exposed, no verdict has been reached in the journalist’s murder. Ortega’s family and international observers continue to call for a fair and impartial trial, highlighting the country’s ongoing crisis of impunity for crimes against journalists.
The unsolved killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid also illustrates the challenges in holding perpetrators accountable. A commentator for DWBL radio, Lapid was known for his radio show where he was a vocal critic of fake news, so-called “red-tagging” (i.e., branding individuals or organizations as supporters of the communist insurgency or “terrorist”) and government corruption. He was shot and killed on October 3, 2022, while on his way home in Las Piñas City.
While the Philippines improved its standing in the World Press Freedom Index, rising to 116th in 2025 from 134th in 2024, NUJP noted that the higher ranking does not reflect meaningful improvements in press freedom on the ground.
Foto © Raffy Lerma