Leo Lastimosa

Last updated

Leo Lastimosa
Born
Leo Andanar Lastimosa

(1964-09-26) September 26, 1964 (age 59)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • Radio broadcaster
  • Newscaster
  • Columnist
Organizations
SpouseIris Jakosalem

Leo Andanar Lastimosa (born September 26, 1964) is a veteran tri-media journalist based in Cebu City, Philippines. [1] He was formerly an anchorman for ABS-CBN's regional news program, TV Patrol Central Visayas, [2] the host of the current affairs program Arangkada on radio station DYAB, [3] and a columnist for Cebu's newspaper, The Freeman. [4]

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. [5] 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. He then took up a degree in political science at the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Career

His professional journalism career began in 1985 at DYLA radio station. He later moved to another radio station, DYRF. 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. [6]

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. [7]

Decriminalizing libel

In 2007, then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed a libel case against Lastimosa. [8] 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. [4] Lastimosa denied that Garcia was the subject of the article. [9] On August 30, 2013, the court found Lastimosa guilty, and fined him ₱6,000 and an additional ₱2,000,000 for moral damages. [1] He lost his appeal as the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision. [10] Attorney Celso Espinosa, his counsel, filed a motion for reconsideration to reverse the ruling of the appellate court. [9] On December 5, 2022, Lastimosa was acquitted of all charges of libel against Garcia by the Supreme Court. [11]

His conviction, 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. [8]

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. [12] 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. [3] 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. [1]

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, [13] one of the suspects of the murder of the Chiong sisters in the 1990s. [14]

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. [15] 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." [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

Potenciano Aliño was a Filipino writer, translator, and revolutionary. He worked as a translator for newspapers in Cebu for works in Spanish and Cebuano. He is credited for having been the first person to translate Jose Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios into the Cebuano language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DYXX-TV</span> Television station in Jordan, Guimaras

DYXX-TV is a television station in Iloilo City, Philippines, airing programming from the GMA network. It is owned and operated by the network's namesake corporate parent alongside GTV outlet DYKV-TV. The station maintains studios and hybrid analog/digital transmitting facility at the GMA Compound, Phase 5, Alta Tierra Village, MacArthur Drive, Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro, Iloilo City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomas Osmeña</span> Filipino politician

Tomas dela Rama Osmeña, known as Tommy Osmeña, is a Filipino politician who served as the Mayor of Cebu City thrice: first from 1987 to 1995, again from 2001 to 2010, and lastly from 2016 to 2019. He also served as Congressman representing the second district of Cebu City from 2010 to 2013. He is a grandson of former Philippine President Sergio Osmeña.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu</span> National museum in Cebu City, Philippines

National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu is a museum in Cebu City, Philippines under the National Museum of the Philippines system.

Pablito Galeza Nalzaro, also known as Bobby Nalzaro or Super Bob, was a Filipino broadcast journalist, radio commentator and columnist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Cebu</span> Private university in Cebu, Philippines

The University of Cebu (UC) is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational basic and higher education institution in Cebu City, Philippines. It was founded in 1964 offering preschool, grade school, junior & senior high school, undergraduate degrees, and post-graduate degrees. It currently has five campuses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emilio Villareal</span> Musical artist

Emilio Villareal, also called Maestro Mil, was a Filipino composer and musician. Born in Boljoon, Cebu in 1920, Mil was from a Chinese-Spanish family of musicians.

DYLA is a radio station owned and operated by Vimcontu Broadcasting Corporation, the broadcast arm of the Visayas-Mindanao Confederation of Trade Unions. The station's studio is located at 2nd Floor, JSU-PSU Mariners' Court-Cebu, ALU-VIMCONTU Welfare Center, Pier 1, Cebu City, and its transmitter is located at Alumnos, Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City.

<i>The Freeman</i> (newspaper) Daily newspaper published in Cebu, Philippines

The Freeman is a daily English-language newspaper published in Cebu, Philippines. It is the longest-running newspaper in Cebu, first published on May 10, 1919. Since 2004, the newspaper has been published by the Philstar Media Group, publisher of the Manila-based newspaper, The Philippine STAR, with former owner Jose "Dodong" Gullas retaining editorial control over the newspaper. The motto of the newspaper is "Fair and fearless".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABS-CBN Regional Channel</span> Philippine pay TV channel

ABS-CBN Regional Channel was a Philippine pay television channel which aired programming from the regional television and radio stations owned by ABS-CBN. The channel was launched as a test broadcast on August 1, 2016, and was officially launched on March 20, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RJ Nieto</span> Filipino political blogger and columnist

Rey Joseph "RJ" Pengson Nieto, known also by his alias Thinking Pinoy, is a Filipino blogger and opinion columnist. He writes an op-ed column for the Manila Bulletin and also owns a blog site, where he publishes his opinions on Filipino politics. A well-known and vocal supporter of Rodrigo Duterte, he has drawn controversies and faced legal proceedings for allegations of libel and spreading disinformation, as well as his counter-criticisms against he and the administration's critics.

Jude Gitamondoc is a Filipino songwriter, record producer, and musical director based in Cebu, Philippines. He had won several awards including two Awit Awards, ABS-CBN's Himig Handog TFC Choice Award, StarStudio Reader's Choice Award, Cebu Pop Musical Festival, and Golden Screen Awards.

Natalio Bacus Bacalso was a Filipino writer, newspaperman, radio broadcaster, filmmaker, Constitutional Convention delegate in 1971 representing Cebu's 2nd district, and opposition assemblyman to the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. The Natalio Bacalso Avenue is named after him. On June 13, 2019, The Freeman recognized him as one of the Top 100 Cebuanos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manuel Briones</span> Filipino lawyer, legislator, and Supreme Court Associate Justice

Manuel Cabahug Briones was Filipino Visayan lawyer, judge, and politician from Cebu, Philippines. He was the first Supreme Court Associate Justice from Cebu, and he was a former Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, two-term Senator, Member of the House of Representative for four consecutive terms, and editor from Cebu, Philippines.

Arsenio Veloso Climaco, the son of Valeriano and Gliceria Veloso, was born on June 24, 1870 and grandson of Juan F. Climaco. Arsenio Climaco, who married Juanita Osmeña, was the Governor of Cebu province, Philippines from 1923 until 1930, succeeding Manuel Roa. Mananga bridge in Talisay City was constructed. His stint was marked with the Great Depression, and he devoted his time on repair projects of damaged infrastructure caused by typhoon. He died on November 15, 1952. On September 10, 1968, the Cebu City Council enacted Ordinance No. 635 renaming Orchid Street to Gov. Arsenio Climaco Street in his honor.

Sotero "Terong" Barte Cabahug was a Filipino lawyer, legislator, politician, and civil servant from Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines. He was awarded Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander. He was governor of Cebu (1934–1937), member of the House of Representatives for Cebu's 2nd district for two consecutive terms (1928–1934), Secretary of Public Works and Communications (1945–1946), member of the Cebu Provincial Board (1952–1954), the 9th Secretary of National Defense (1954–1956), and associate justice of the Court of Appeals (1956–1961).

Paulino Arandia Gullas was a Filipino Visayan lawyer, newspaper publisher, and legislator from Cebu, Philippines. He was the founder of The Freeman, Cebu's longest-running newspaper, served as member of the 7th Philippine Legislature for Cebu's 2nd district (1925–1927), Delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, and member of the National Assembly during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2019

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 13, 2019 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

Ernesto Degumbis Lariosa, also known as Nyor Erning, was a Filipino Visayan writer, poet, and columnist from Cebu, Philippines and a three-time Palanca awardee in Cebuano short story. In 2003, he was recognized by the Cebu City government as the "Vanguard of Cebuano Literature".

Julian Bacus Daan, popularly known as Esteban "Teban" Escudero after a character he played in a radio drama, was a Filipino Cebuano film, local TV, stage, and radio writer, director, actor, comedian, and politician from Cebu, Philippines. He served six terms as member of the Cebu Provincial Board representing the first legislative district. He was serving his second term as councilman for Talisay City at the time of his death.

References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. "Tubag! With Leo Lastimosa | Philstar.com". philstar.com. August 30, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. 1 2 Languido, Fred (January 3, 2008). "Arrest warrant served vs. Leo: Lastimosa posts bail for libel case | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. Noveda, Kara Mae Muga. "Kilalanin Ang (2005) KBP Golden Dove Best TV Newscaster Of The Year!". www.sunstar.com.[ dead link ] Alt URL
  7. Lastimosa, Leo. "ARANGKADA". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Tzabiras, Marianna (September 9, 2013). "Renewed calls for decriminalisation of libel as Filipino media muzzled - IFEX". IFEX. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Braga, Michael Vencynth (October 3, 2016). "Lastimosa asks CA to reverse libel ruling | Banat". philstar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  10. Dalipe, Gerome (October 1, 2016). "CA affirms Leo's libel conviction". www.sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  11. "SC acquits Leo Lastimosa of libel rap filed by Garcia". SunStar . Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  12. "Cebu broadcaster summoned to CIDG". www.sunstar.com.ph. August 17, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  13. Yap, Januar (September 28, 2012). "Give up tomorrow". SunStar Cebu.
  14. De Guzman, Nicai (July 17, 2018). "Twenty Years Later, the Chiong Sisters' Murder is Still Shrouded in Mystery". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  15. Balbuena, Vanessa (June 11, 2011). "The lyricist and composer of". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  16. "Talisay City lauds TF's, ABS-CBN's Lastimosa | Philstar.com". philstar.com. November 18, 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  17. Salterio, Leah C. (October 31, 2005). "The pride of the broadcast industry | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  18. LAGUNDA, KEVIN A. (September 1, 2013). "Sun.Star, Super Balita win 4 Camma prizes". www.sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved December 2, 2018.