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August 9, 2022

Philippines Scholar and Activist Walden Bello Arrested on "Cyber Libel" Charges
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In the Philippines, police arrested former vice-presidential candidate,
scholar and activist Walden Bello on cyber libel charges. He's since
been released after he posted bail. Last year, ahead of the presidential
election in the Philippines, a member of Vice President Sara Duterte's
campaign, Jefry Tupas, filed a cyber libel complaint against Bello over
statements he allegedly made about Tupas on social media. Sara Duterte
is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose government
has been accused of severe human rights violations and repression
against critics and journalists. On Twitter, Walden Bello wrote, "These
people are mistaken if they think they can silence me and suppress my
exercise of free speech."


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