Originally published at The Crux
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MANILA, Philippines – Human rights and media watchdogs are defending a Filipino journalist facing an “unjust vexation” case filed by a minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a powerful independent Christian church in this predominantly Catholic country.
Journalist Marchel Espina, 39, was sued for unjust vexation for publishing an opinion piece against the INC in the local newspaper SunStar Cebu in Dec. 2024. She was the newspaper’s editor-in-chief when the article, titled “Demonic Church Meddling in Politics,” was published.
Pedro Castillo, a district supervising minister of the INC in Batangas province, filed the case against Espina. The INC spokesperson has declined Crux Now‘s request for comment.
Under the law in the Philippines, the charge of unjust vexation means causing “annoyance, irritation, torment, distress, or disturbance to the mind,” and is a criminal offense.
If Espina is convicted, she faces up to 30 days’ imprisonment and fines of up to US$650.
However, even if the Batangas court is still hearing her case, the journalist will need to pay US$500 for each court appearance. This is because Espina is based in the central Philippine city of
