Filipino president's husband 'trying to muzzle press'

Media groups in the Philippines claim that the president's husband is trying to muzzle the press by filing libel suits against 43 journalists and publishers over the past two years. The latest arrest warrants were issued this week against the publisher and eight reporters of Malaya, a daily newspaper critical of President Gloria Macapagal after complaints from her husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. His spokeswoman denied that the libel suits were intended to muzzle the media. "The first gentleman just wants to tell them to stop lying", she said. "Journalism is about telling the truth, not inventing stories.' President Arroyo has survived two impeachment attempts over allegations of corruption and vote rigging. (Via Topix.net)