"WE MUST DO EVERYTHING TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS ARE NOT SO LIGHTLY TRAMPLED UPON BY THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT" --- KIKO PANGILINAN

A day after media sought intervention of the Supreme Court over the arrests that were made against them for covering the Manila Pen siege last November, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today praised media for its fearless effort to stand up against any intrusion from authorities while performing their duties as journalists.

"We must do everything to ensure that the rights to free speech and of the press are not so lightly trampled upon by the executive department," Kiko said.

Yesterday, media personalities mostly from the television network ABS-CBN filed a Writ of Amparo or a Writ of Prohibition, they also sought the high court's protection from similar actions in the future by the government.

The petitioners stressed that their arrests were illegal and that they have not committed any wrongdoing in the presence of an arresting officer.

Last November, Sen. Pangilinan urged media to bring the matter to the court in order to get a definite ruling. He pointed out, "The courts must step in to prevent a repeat of the incident."

Pangilinan ended, "We in The Senate will likewise look into what can be done to protect the constitutionally granted rights, such as free speech and access to information, against any unreasonable intrusions of the government."