Philip Lustre feels unsafe in Davao; seeks transfer of cyberlibel case

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran journalist Philip Lustre, who is the subject of a cyberlibel case filed by Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, is seeking to transfer the case from Davao City to Metro Manila.

Lustre’s lawyer, Dino De Leon, said Wednesday that the motion, which they said was filed due to safety concerns, is among the pre-arraignment motions they intend to submit.

READ: Journalist Philip Lustre posts P48,000 bail in cyberlibel case

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“For the court, we are in the process of filing pre-arraignment remedies including a motion for reinvestigation, motion to quash and to of course transfer the venue,” De Leon said in a press conference.

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“Of course we do not feel safe in Davao City, considering the known proclivity of the Duterte family for violence,” he also said. “I don’t think we will feel safe, the accused and lawyers, traveling all the way to Davao City.”

Lustre, De Leon said, will also have a hard time attending the court proceedings in Davao City.

De Leon said they intend to file the motion for change of venue either this Wednesday or Thursday.

Lustre, 72, was arrested in Quezon City on Saturday after a Davao court issued a warrant for his arrest on a cyberlibel charge.