Leo Lastimosa

Last updated

Leo Lastimosa
Born
Leo Andanar Lastimosa

(1964-09-26) September 26, 1964 (age 60)
Education University of San Jose-Recoletos (Bachelor of Arts Political Science)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • Radio broadcaster
  • Newscaster
  • Columnist
Organizations
Television TV Patrol Central Visayas
SpouseIris Jakosalem
YouTube information
Channels Leo Lastimosa
Years activeJuly 29, 2022–present
GenreNews Commentary
Subscribers34 thousand
Views14.7 million views
Contents are in Cebuano, English
Associated acts Baruganan ni Leo Lastimosa Podcast on Spotify

Last updated: 1 September 2025

Leo Andanar Lastimosa (born September 26, 1964) is a veteran tri-media journalist based in Cebu City, Philippines. He was a former anchorman for ABS-CBN's regional television news program TV Patrol Central Visayas, former radio host of the current affairs program Arangkada on radio station DYAB, and columnist for The Freeman and Banat daily newspapers. [1] [2] [3] [4] Currently, he livestreams his news commentary in his YouTube channel. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life

Lastimosa is the son of a farmer and a public school teacher. Growing up in poverty in Talisay, he had a dream of becoming a writer. During high school, he decided to submit an unsolicited article to the publisher of The Freeman, a local daily in Cebu. His submission was published the next day, an event that encouraged him to pursue a journalistic career. [7]

He earned a degree in political science at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, through a scholarship from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). Later, he enrolled at the University of San Carlos College of Law as a scholar (of Wilfredo “Baby” Camomot), but did not proceed to finish. [8]

G.R. No. 233577
Seal of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines.svg
Court Supreme Court of the Philippines en banc
DecidedDecember 5, 2022 (2022-12-05)
G.R. number233577
Citation Leo A. Lastimosa Vs. People of the Philippines
Ruling
Ponente Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
ACQUITED
Concurrence Henri Jean Paul Inting, Samuel Gaerlan, Japar Dimaampao, Maria Filomena Singh
Keywords

Career

His professional journalism career began in 1985 at DYLA-AM. [9] [10] He later moved to another radio station, DYRF [11] . During the height of the first EDSA revolution, he played a role in the newsroom operations at the radio station. In 1995, he became a news director in the newly-launched radio station, DYAB, and started hosting the regular television program, Banat Visayas, Sulong Mindanao. He claimed he had received death threats in the course of his journalistic career. [12]

In 2003, he became an anchor for TV Patrol Central Visayas, which aired on ABS-CBN 3 Cebu. He also began writing a column called Arangkada in The Freeman, a local daily newspaper, using the Cebuano language. [4]

Decriminalizing libel

In 2007, then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed a libel case against Lastimosa. [13] The suit alleged that Garcia was the subject of his column entitled Doling Kawatan (Doling the Thief) that was published on The Freeman last June 29, 2007. On August 27, 2010, Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Raphael Yrastorza signed a warrant of arrest against Lastimosa, who then posted bail. [14] Lastimosa denied that Garcia was the subject of the article. [15] On August 30, 2013, the court found Lastimosa guilty, and fined him ₱6,000 and an additional ₱2,000,000 for moral damages. [16] He lost his appeal as the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision. [17] Attorney Celso Espinosa, his counsel, filed a motion for reconsideration to reverse the ruling of the appellate court. [15]

This libel case, as well as other similar high-level cases filed against journalists in the country, prompted renewed calls to decriminalize libel in defense of press freedom. [13]

On December 5, 2022, Lastimosa was acquitted of all charges of libel against Garcia by the Supreme Court. [18]

CIDG subpoena

On August 17, 2018, Lastimosa appeared in the regional office of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Central Visayas in response to a subpoena that directed him to provide a copy of his interview with Senator Antonio Trillanes on his radio show last September 8, 2017. [19] The subpoena came after former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, requested the police to obtain a copy of the interview as evidence in court for a libel case he was filing against Trillanes who accused him for being involved in Php 6.2 billion shabu shipment in 2016. [2] Lastimosa executed an affidavit stating that audio recordings were long deleted as radio stations were only mandated to keep the records for 10 days or 30 days when there is a court order. He also declined to authenticate a recording of the said interview presented by the CIDG. [16]

Give Up Tomorrow

Lastimosa also appeared in the documentary Give Up Tomorrow alongside other journalists who were interviewed regarding the controversial conviction of Paco Laranaga, [20] one of the suspects of the murder of the Chiong sisters in the 1990s. [21]

Journalist in Online Media

After the shutdown of ABS-CBN, Lastimosa eventually became a news commentator in online media, independent of an established news outfit. He is among a number of journalists who are now becoming content creators. He livestreams everyday primarily in his YouTube channel. In the morning he goes live with Baruganan (Stand) and in the evening with Panahum sa Kilom-Kilom (Opinion at Dusk). [5] [6]

Personal life

Aside from journalism, he also ventured into music. He penned the lyrics of Awit ni Dodong, the winning entry of the theme song contest for the Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas (JRG) Halad Museum. [22] About a lover's hopes and fears for a beloved, the song was put into music by Emilio Villareal.

Lastimosa married to practitioner Iris Jakosalem.

Awards

Lastimosa has won numerous awards and recognition for his work. Notably, the Talisay City Council passed a resolution congratulating him for his win at 2005 KBP Golden Dove Awards citing his "commendable competence, integrity and fairness in the field of newscasting and showed his dedication and deep love for his country and people by his humble service as a media man." [23]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleChannel
1995Banat Visayas, Sulong MindanaoAnchorABS-CBN Regional Network Group (RNG) [7]
2003–2020 TV Patrol Central Visayas Main News Anchor ABS-CBN Channel 3 Cebu [27]

Radio

YearTitleRoleChannel
Until 2020ArangkadaCommentary AnchorDYAB [28]
DYAB Radyo Patrol BalitaNews Anchor
Kasayurang KinuykoyanCommentary Anchor

See also

References

  1. "Tubag! With Leo Lastimosa | Philstar.com". philstar.com. August 30, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "On Paolo Duterte's request, CIDG 7 summons, asks broadcaster Leo Lastimosa". www.sunstar.com.ph. August 18, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  3. Ciar, Troy (January 27, 2021). "Ciar: Q and A with Leo Lastimosa". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Lastimosa, Leo. "ARANGKADA". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Limpag, Max (January 18, 2025). "The rise of journalist-creators in Cebu". Rappler . Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Lachica, Immae (May 3, 2023). "Press freedom and its evolution over time". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Tomada, Nathalie M. (September 13, 2006). "Garbo sa Sugbo 2006: Leo Lastimosa on the frontlines of Fearless Journalism | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  8. Lastimosa, Leo. "Labing bililhong mga Pinaskohan". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  9. "About US: The DYLA – The Voice of Labor". DYLA has produced several well-known media personalities in Cebu including the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, hard-hitting commentator Vic Villordon..., Leo Lastimosa who is now a television personality in Cebu City, among others.
  10. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (March 23, 2015). "VIMCONTU radio station in Cebu". The Freeman . Leo Lastimosa, a tri media personality also used to work with DYLA as news reporter then as news director.
  11. "5 radio commentators: Who pays for the microphone?". Cebu Journalism & Journalists | Cebu Journ. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  12. "Kilalanin ang (2005) KBP GOLDEN DOVE BEST TV NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR!". PinoyExchange.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Tzabiras, Marianna (September 9, 2013). "Renewed calls for decriminalisation of libel as Filipino media muzzled - IFEX". IFEX. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  14. Languido, Fred (January 3, 2008). "Arrest warrant served vs. Leo: Lastimosa posts bail for libel case | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  15. 1 2 Braga, Michael Vencynth (October 3, 2016). "Lastimosa asks CA to reverse libel ruling | Banat". philstar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  16. 1 2 Mayol, Ador Vincent (August 17, 2018). "Cebu radioman refuses to authenticate recording of interview with Trillanes". Philippine Daily Inquirer . newsinfo.inquirer.com. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  17. Dalipe, Gerome (October 1, 2016). "CA affirms Leo's libel conviction". www.sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  18. "SC acquits Leo Lastimosa of libel rap filed by Garcia". SunStar . April 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  19. "Cebu broadcaster summoned to CIDG". www.sunstar.com.ph. August 17, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  20. Lebumfacil, Marigold; Balbuena, Vanessa (September 28, 2012). "Film on Paco's life shown in Cebu". The Philippine Star . Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  21. De Guzman, Nicai (July 17, 2018). "Twenty Years Later, the Chiong Sisters' Murder is Still Shrouded in Mystery". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  22. Balbuena, Vanessa (June 11, 2011). "The lyricist and composer of". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  23. 1 2 "Talisay City lauds TF's, ABS-CBN's Lastimosa | Philstar.com". philstar.com. November 18, 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  24. Salterio, Leah C. (October 31, 2005). "The pride of the broadcast industry | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  25. LAGUNDA, KEVIN A. (September 1, 2013). "Sun.Star, Super Balita win 4 Camma prizes". www.sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  26. "Cebu journalists shine on national stage". Cebu Journalism & Journalists | Cebu Journ. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  27. Erram, Morexette Marie (August 29, 2020). "ABS-CBN Cebu wraps up after three decades of public service". Cebu Daily News . Retrieved July 18, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. "DYAB Cebu Program Schedule | PDF | Television Programming | Broadcasting". Scribd. Retrieved July 17, 2025.