MANILA— Lawyers representing veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. questioned the handling of the cyberlibel case against him, saying he was arrested without being given a chance to respond to the complaint.

Public interest lawyer Dino de Leon, who leads Lustre’s legal team, said the 72-year-old journalist never received the complaint or an opportunity to present his side before the case proceeded.

“The prosecutor’s resolution sets out the complainant’s version. Where is Ka Ipe’s version? There is none, because he never received the complaint and was not given the chance to respond,” De Leon said.

Lustre was arrested on Oct. 24 after attending a media forum in Quezon City. He was released later that day after posting P48,000 bail.

Court documents obtained by De Leon’s law firm identified lawyer Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, as the complainant in the cyberlibel case.

The complaint stemmed from a Facebook post allegedly published by Lustre on March 6, 2026, under the account name “Philip Jr Lustre.”

The post stated: “SUMUKA si Mans Carpio ng P300-M sa operasyon ng Marines: P150-M kay Mike; P50-M kay Levi; at P5-M sa bawat isa sa 18 Marines?”

According to the court document, the statement, “taken in its plain, natural, and ordinary meaning, directly imputes upon Atty. Manases R. Carpio.”

The post allegedly linked Carpio to 18 individuals described as former bagmen of former congressman Zaldy Co, who have claimed to have delivered kickbacks to various political officials. The individuals had been referred to as the “18 Marines.”

De Leon also questioned why the subpoena for his client was sent to the office of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, despite Lustre having no professional affiliation with the publication.

The legal team further sought clarification on whether Davao City Prosecutor’s Office head Atty. Jhopee Avanceña is related to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña.

De Leon said the circumstances raised concerns about the possibility of the prosecutor’s office being “used” by the Dutertes to pursue cases against journalists.

“A preliminary investigation must involve an independent examination of the evidence. It simply cannot carry the complainant’s accusations forward while leaving the respondent outside the process,” De Leon said.

The lawyers also questioned the manner of Lustre’s arrest, noting that the journalist was handcuffed despite his age.

“He was not hiding, he was not fleeing, his alleged crime is not heinous,” De Leon said.

The legal team has filed a motion to transfer the case, citing concerns for its members’ safety in Davao City. De Leon also said he would ask the Department of Justice to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest, including possible irregularities and the alleged denial of due process.

The case has drawn criticism from Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts and a House prosecutor, who pledged congressional support for journalists facing legal complaints from members of the Duterte family.

The cases include libel and cyberlibel complaints filed by Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte against GMA Network executives and journalists, as well as the complaint against Lustre.

Ridon said the legal actions recalled the challenges faced by ABS-CBN and Rappler during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Ito po ay pag-atake sa press freedom. Ito po ay pag-atake sa kalayaan para sa pamamahayag. Hindi po ito papayagan ng Kongreso, hindi po ito papayagan ng House prosecution panel,” Ridon said.

“Ginawa na po nila ito noon sa ABS-CBN; ginawa na po nila ito sa Rappler. We will not allow them to do it again. Not under our watch,” he added.

Paolo Duterte filed complaints on Oct. 23 against GMA executives and journalists, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag and former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. The complaints arose from a GMA report on Gracioso’s allegations that he delivered suitcases of cash to members of the Duterte family, who have denied the claims.

Ridon also questioned the Philippine National Police’s handling of Lustre’s arrest compared with the proceedings involving Vice President Duterte in a separate grave threats case.

On Sept. 4, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued an arrest warrant against the Vice President for three counts of grave threats, setting bail at P120,000 per count, or P360,000 in total.

The charges stemmed from her November 2024 online press briefing, during which she said she had instructed someone to kill President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez if she herself were killed. Duterte denied making threats, saying her remarks expressed concern for her own safety.

She appeared before the court on Sept. 5 and posted bail without being taken into police custody. The court subsequently lifted the arrest warrant.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later said authorities knew the Vice President’s whereabouts the night before but did not force her arrest, maintaining that police had treated her with the respect due her office.

“The double standard of the non-arrest of the Vice President is clearly at play on the arrest of Philip Lustre,” Ridon said.

“I think the [PNP] should clarify today bakit po inaaresto si Philip Lustre samantalang hindi po inaaresto ang ating pong Pangalawang Pangulo,” he added.

Ridon said he would coordinate with fellow lawmakers, including ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, on a possible joint House resolution addressing concerns over Lustre’s arrest.

He also pledged support for journalists and media organizations facing the complaints.

“‘Yung lahat po ng tulong na maibibigay po namin sa lahat ng mga kasamahan po natin sa media para harapin po ang mga kasong ito para sa broadcast network ng GMA 7 at para sa mamamahayag, beteranong mamamahayag na Philip Lustre,” he said.

“Gagawin po namin ito. Sasamahan po namin sila sa bawat larangan ng laban po na ito,” Ridon added.