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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The complainant, a supervising minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo, is reacting to the article 'Demonic Church Meddling in Politics' published by SunStar Cebu and Journal Online
CEBU, Philippines – A Batangas court has ordered the arrest of former Sunstar Cebu and Bacolod editor in chief Marchel Espina and four others for allegedly causing unjust vexation through an opinion article they published in December 2024.
The Regional Trial Court 4th Judicial Region Branch 1 in Batangas City set the bail at P6,000 for each person.
Based on a document from the Department of Justice Regional Prosecution Office in Calabarzon dated May 28, a certain Pedro Fajot Castillo accused the respondents of causing him annoyance, irritation, torment, distress, and disturbance.
The cause of the respondent’s irritation was an article entitled “Demonic Church Meddling in Politics” that was posted on SunStar Cebu and Journal Online.
Based on a March 12, 2026, article on the Iglesia ni Cristo website, Castillo is a district supervising minister in the INC’s ecclesiastical district of Batangas.
”[We] didn’t write the article. It was a contributed article. It was part of the case when I was still editor in chief in SunStar Cebu,” Espina told Rappler on Thursday, July 16.
Espina is has served as editor in chief of SunStar Bacolod from March 2018 to February 2019 and again from December 2022 to May 2024, and SunStar Cebu from June 2024 to January 2025. She was a Rappler correspondent before she became a newspaper editor.
Espina disclosed that the complainant previously filed a cyberlibel complaint against SunStar, but it was dismissed.
The journalist said that the arrest was a form of harassment.
This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more details are made available. – Rappler.com
