Media organizations in the Negros Island Region (NIR) of Philippines have condemned the arrest of broadcast journalist Erwin “Ambo” Delilan, station manager of Bacolod City-based 104.7 Hapi Radio and regular contributor to Rappler.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested Delilan at his home in EB Magalona town, Negros Occidental, shortly before midnight on Monday, January 19.

A copy of the warrant showed no details except that the case was for alleged unjust vexation committed through information and communication technology.

Unjust vexation is a minor offense under Philippine law that penalizes acts causing annoyance or distress without legal justification.

He was released on bail the next day and it was only upon his release that he was informed that the case stemmed from his political posts on his Facebook page, filed by Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II.

The arrest alarmed media groups in the Negros Island Region who warned of its chilling effect on press freedom.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Negros Island Region (NIR) condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.

“The case slapped on Delilan is pure intimidation and harassment meant to silence him and the entire press,” the group said in a statement, alleging that the complaint apparently stemmed from Delilan’s reporting and criticism of provincial officials on issues of public interest.

Another group, the Iloilo Media-Citizen Council, said Delilan’s arrest showed the “fragile state of press freedom when legal processes are used to intimidate rather than seek justice.”

“At the heart of this case is Delilan’s use of poetry and commentary to critique the provincial government. Penalizing a journalist for his ‘journalistic style’ creates a chilling effect on free expression,” the council said in a statement.