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{{Short description|Filipino journalist}}
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'''Marlene Garcia-Esperat''' (August 29, 1959 – March 24, 2005 in [[Tacurong City]], [[Sultan Kudarat]], [[Philippines]]) was a [[Filipino people|Filipina]] [[whistleblower]] and [[investigative journalist]] who wrote a weekly anti-[[political corruption#Graft|graft]] column for local newspapers. As a result of her anti-corruption work, she was [[murder]]ed in her own home.<ref name="Asia Cases 2005">[http://www.cpj.org/cases05/asia_cases05/phil.html Asia Cases 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
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==Biography==
{{Use Philippine English|date=November 2022}}
⚫
Garcia-Esperat's career in journalism began accidentally: in the early 1990s, she was an [[analytical chemistry|analytical chemist]] for the Department of Agriculture, when she discovered that her laboratory was not receiving the funding it had been allocated.<ref>[http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/marlene.html Farewell, Erin Brockovich<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Inspired by the example of her first husband, '''Severino Arcones''',<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2005/04/05/news/marlene.garcia.esperat.madame.witness.html Sun.Star General Santos - Marlene Garcia Esperat: Madame Witness<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> a journalist who was murdered in 1989, Garcia-Esperat began her public activities. She also spent two years in the [[witness protection program]] due to her ombudsman discoveries.<ref name="Asia Cases 2005"/>
{{Infobox person
| name = Marlene Garcia Esperat
| image =
| birth_name = Marlene Garcia
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|8|29}}
| birth_place = [[Mindanao]], Philippines
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|3|24|1959|8|29}}
| death_place = [[Tacurong]], [[Sultan Kudarat]]
| nationality = {{PHI}}
| occupation = [[Investigative journalist]]
| years_active =
| spouse =
| children =
| relations =
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Marlene Garcia Esperat''' (August 29, 1959 – March 24, 2005, in [[Tacurong City]], [[Sultan Kudarat]], [[Philippines]]) was a [[Filipino people|Filipina]] [[whistleblower]] and [[investigative journalist]] who wrote a weekly anti-[[political corruption#Graft|graft]] column for local newspapers. As a result of her anti-corruption work, she was [[murder]]ed in her own home.<ref name="Asia Cases 2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.cpj.org/cases05/asia_cases05/phil.html|title=Asia Cases 2005|publisher=|accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref>


⚫
==Biography==
⚫
Her case is significant, as it is the first of the 56 murders of Filipino journalists since 1986 <ref>[http://www.pcij.org/stories/2006/marlene-esperat.html One Year after her Murder, No Justice for ‘Erin Brockovich’<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> for which the people ultimately responsible were identified, in addition to the people directly involved. Esperat, as former employee of the Department of Agriculture in [[Central Mindanao]] (DA-12) and Midland Review, [[Tacurong City]] columnist, exposed the alleged Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante fertilizer funds scam, in which President [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] was implicated.<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.(1.05.p.m.).html sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects]</ref>
⚫
Garcia-Esperat's career in journalism began accidentally: in the early 1990s, she was an [[analytical chemistry|analytical chemist]] for the Department of Agriculture, when she discovered that her laboratory was not receiving the funding it had been allocated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/marlene.html|title=Farewell, Erin Brockovich|publisher=|accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref> Inspired by the example of her first husband, '''Severino Arcones''',<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2005/04/05/news/marlene.garcia.esperat.madame.witness.html Sun.Star General Santos - Marlene Garcia Esperat: Madame Witness<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013212/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2005/04/05/news/marlene.garcia.esperat.madame.witness.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> a journalist who was murdered in 1989, Garcia-Esperat began her public activities. She also spent two years in the [[witness protection program]] due to her ombudsman discoveries.<ref name="Asia Cases 2005"/>


⚫
Her case is significant, as it is the first of the 56 murders of Filipino journalists since 1986 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcij.org/stories/2006/marlene-esperat.html|title=One Year after her Murder, No Justice for 'Erin Brockovich'|accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref> for which the people ultimately responsible were identified, in addition to the people directly involved. Esperat, as former employee of the Department of Agriculture in [[Central Mindanao]] (DA-12) and Midland Review, [[Tacurong City]] columnist, exposed the alleged [[Fertilizer Fund scam|Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante fertilizer funds scam]], in which President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] was implicated.<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.(1.05.p.m.).html sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024063952/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.%281.05.p.m.%29.html |date=October 24, 2008 }}</ref>
⚫
Two weeks after the killing, '''Randy Grecia''' (one of the [[lookout]]s) surrendered to police, and subsequently pled guilty.<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2006/05/29/news/lawyer.in.esperat.murder.case.upbeat.html Sun.Star General Santos - Lawyer in Esperat murder case upbeat<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Grecia and his three accomplices ('''Estanislao Bismanos''' and '''Gerry Cabayag''', who likewise pled guilty, and '''Rowie Barua''', who has become a State Witness) have testified that they were hired by two officials in the [[Department of Agriculture (Philippines)|Philippines Department of Agriculture]] of [[Central Mindanao]]. Murder charges were filed, but later dismissed.

⚫
Two weeks after the killing, '''Randy Grecia''' (one of the [[lookout]]s) surrendered to police, and subsequently pleaded guilty.<ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2006/05/29/news/lawyer.in.esperat.murder.case.upbeat.html Sun.Star General Santos - Lawyer in Esperat murder case upbeat<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030537/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/gen/2006/05/29/news/lawyer.in.esperat.murder.case.upbeat.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> Grecia and his three accomplices ('''Estanislao Bismanos''' and '''Gerry Cabayag''', who likewise pleaded guilty, and '''Rowie Barua''', who has become a State Witness) have testified that they were hired by two officials in the [[Department of Agriculture (Philippines)|Philippines Department of Agriculture]] of [[Central Mindanao]]. Murder charges were filed, but later dismissed.


The Esperat family lawyer, Nena Santos, told the Manila Standard that the dismissal of charges was "highly questionable and suspicious," and that it was a "miscarriage of justice."<ref name="Asia Cases 2005"/>
The Esperat family lawyer, Nena Santos, told the Manila Standard that the dismissal of charges was "highly questionable and suspicious," and that it was a "miscarriage of justice."<ref name="Asia Cases 2005"/>
The case was re-filed.
The case was re-filed.
The Cebu court convicted and meted out life imprisonment to Randy Garcia, Gerry Cabayag and Estanislao Bismanos who admitted they were hired for P120,000 to kill Esperat.<ref name="February 12, 2008">[http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/archives2008/feb12.htm February 12 2008<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The Cebu court convicted and meted out life imprisonment to Randy Garcia, Gerry Cabayag and Estanislao Bismanos who admitted they were hired for P120,000 to kill Esperat.<ref name="February 12, 2008">[http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/archives2008/feb12.htm February 12 2008<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203155308/http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/archives2008/feb12.htm |date=December 3, 2008 }}</ref>


Since then, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the reopening of the investigation against alleged masterminds Montaner and Sabay, respectively, of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who were earlier excluded from the killing of Esperat by the Regional Trial Court in Tacurong City.<ref name="February 12, 2008"/>
Since then, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the reopening of the investigation against alleged masterminds Montaner and Sabay, respectively, of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who were earlier excluded from the killing of Esperat by the Regional Trial Court in Tacurong City.<ref name="February 12, 2008"/>


Esperat’s sister, Valmie Garcia Mariveles, who re-filed the charges against Montañer and Sabay, gathered more evidence. Accordingly, on September 28, 2008, [[Cebu City]] RTC Branch 7 Judge Simeon Dumdum approved the withdrawal of charges at the Cebu City Court for filing of murder case, instead against the alleged 2 masterminds before the Tacurong City RTC. Also, on October 20, 2008, the [[Department of Justice (Philippines)]] refiled the [[murder]] charges, in Tacurong City against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, DA-12 finance officer and accountant, respectively, as masterminds. Meanwhile, the [[New York]] [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] welcomed the issuance of [[arrest warrant]]s by [[Tacurong City]], [[Sultan Kudarat]] Regional Trial Court Judge Melanio S. Guerrero of Branch 20 against the 2 accused, amid the case hearing on October 27, 2008.<ref>[http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128857/CPJ-welcomes-arrest-warrants-in-Esperat-case gmanews.tv/story, CPJ welcomes arrest warrants in Esperat case]</ref> Tacurong RTC Judge Melanio Guerrero ordered the 2 accused to file a response within 10 days. The 2 DA officials, however, filed a [[motion to dismiss]] or to quash the case.<ref>[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081023-167960/2-DA-execs-charged-with-Esperats-slay newsinfo.inquirer.net, 2 DA execs charged with Esperat’s slay]</ref><ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.(1.05.p.m.).html sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects]</ref>
Esperat's sister, Valmie Garcia Mariveles, who re-filed the charges against Montañer and Sabay, gathered more evidence. Accordingly, on September 28, 2008, [[Cebu City]] RTC Branch 7 Judge Simeon Dumdum approved the withdrawal of charges at the Cebu City Court for filing of murder case, instead against the alleged 2 masterminds before the Tacurong City RTC. Also, on October 20, 2008, the [[Department of Justice (Philippines)]] refiled the [[murder]] charges, in Tacurong City against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, DA-12 finance officer and accountant, respectively, as masterminds. Meanwhile, the [[New York City|New York]] [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] welcomed the issuance of [[arrest warrant]]s by [[Tacurong City]], [[Sultan Kudarat]] Regional Trial Court Judge Melanio S. Guerrero of Branch 20 against the 2 accused, amid the case hearing on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128857/CPJ-welcomes-arrest-warrants-in-Esperat-case|title=CPJ welcomes arrest warrants in Esperat case|work=GMA News Online|accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref> Tacurong RTC Judge Melanio Guerrero ordered the 2 accused to file a response within 10 days. The 2 DA officials, however, filed a [[motion to dismiss]] or to quash the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081023-167960/2-DA-execs-charged-with-Esperats-slay|title=2 DA execs charged with Esperat's slay|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428011533/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20081023-167960/2-DA-execs-charged-with-Esperats-slay|archivedate=April 28, 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.(1.05.p.m.).html sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024063952/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/enwiki/static/net/2008/10/23/court.hands.arrest.warrants.to.journalist.s.slay.suspects.%281.05.p.m.%29.html |date=October 24, 2008 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.rsf.org/killed_2005.php3?id_article=13016 Entry on Marlene Garcia-Esperat] ([[Reporters sans Frontières]])
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061128145929/http://www.rsf.org/killed_2005.php3?id_article=13016 Entry on Marlene Garcia-Esperat] ([[Reporters sans Frontières]])
*[http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/marlene.html Obituary for Marlene Garcia-Esperat at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]
*[http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/marlene.html Obituary for Marlene Garcia-Esperat at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]
*[http://www.cmfr.com.ph/esperatprimer.htm Primer on the Marlene Esperat Case Trial] at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061008165250/http://www.cmfr.com.ph/esperatprimer.htm Primer on the Marlene Esperat Case Trial] at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
*[http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/media/200610/20061004thecurrent_sec2.ram Documentary on the life and death of Marlene Esperat] on [[CBC Radio]]'s ''[[The Current (radio program)|The Current]]'' (in [[RealAudio]] format)
*[http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/media/200610/20061004thecurrent_sec2.ram Documentary on the life and death of Marlene Esperat] on [[CBC Radio]]'s ''[[The Current (radio program)|The Current]]'' (in [[RealAudio]] format)
*[http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/65654 Press Freedom Groups Condemn Esperat's Murder] ([[International Freedom of Expression Exchange]])
*[http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/65654 Press Freedom Groups Condemn Esperat's Murder] ([[International Freedom of Expression Exchange]])


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Garcia-Esperat, Marlene
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Filipino journalist
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 29, 1959
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = March 24, 2005
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia-Esperat, Marlene}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia-Esperat, Marlene}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Alternative journalists]]
[[Category:People from Sultan Kudarat]]
[[Category:Assassinated journalists]]
[[Category:Assassinated Filipino journalists]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Filipino murder victims]]
[[Category:Filipino journalists]]
[[Category:Filipino whistleblowers]]
[[Category:Filipino whistleblowers]]
[[Category:Journalists killed in the Philippines]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino journalists]]

Latest revision as of 09:59, 9 November 2024

Marlene Garcia Esperat
Born
Marlene Garcia

(1959-08-29)August 29, 1959
Mindanao, Philippines
DiedMarch 24, 2005(2005-03-24) (aged 45)
Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
Nationality Philippines
OccupationInvestigative journalist

Marlene Garcia Esperat (August 29, 1959 – March 24, 2005, in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines) was a Filipina whistleblower and investigative journalist who wrote a weekly anti-graft column for local newspapers. As a result of her anti-corruption work, she was murdered in her own home.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Garcia-Esperat's career in journalism began accidentally: in the early 1990s, she was an analytical chemist for the Department of Agriculture, when she discovered that her laboratory was not receiving the funding it had been allocated.[2] Inspired by the example of her first husband, Severino Arcones,[3] a journalist who was murdered in 1989, Garcia-Esperat began her public activities. She also spent two years in the witness protection program due to her ombudsman discoveries.[1]

Her case is significant, as it is the first of the 56 murders of Filipino journalists since 1986 [4] for which the people ultimately responsible were identified, in addition to the people directly involved. Esperat, as former employee of the Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao (DA-12) and Midland Review, Tacurong City columnist, exposed the alleged Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante fertilizer funds scam, in which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was implicated.[5]

Two weeks after the killing, Randy Grecia (one of the lookouts) surrendered to police, and subsequently pleaded guilty.[6] Grecia and his three accomplices (Estanislao Bismanos and Gerry Cabayag, who likewise pleaded guilty, and Rowie Barua, who has become a State Witness) have testified that they were hired by two officials in the Philippines Department of Agriculture of Central Mindanao. Murder charges were filed, but later dismissed.

The Esperat family lawyer, Nena Santos, told the Manila Standard that the dismissal of charges was "highly questionable and suspicious," and that it was a "miscarriage of justice."[1] The case was re-filed. The Cebu court convicted and meted out life imprisonment to Randy Garcia, Gerry Cabayag and Estanislao Bismanos who admitted they were hired for P120,000 to kill Esperat.[7]

Since then, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the reopening of the investigation against alleged masterminds Montaner and Sabay, respectively, of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who were earlier excluded from the killing of Esperat by the Regional Trial Court in Tacurong City.[7]

Esperat's sister, Valmie Garcia Mariveles, who re-filed the charges against Montañer and Sabay, gathered more evidence. Accordingly, on September 28, 2008, Cebu City RTC Branch 7 Judge Simeon Dumdum approved the withdrawal of charges at the Cebu City Court for filing of murder case, instead against the alleged 2 masterminds before the Tacurong City RTC. Also, on October 20, 2008, the Department of Justice (Philippines) refiled the murder charges, in Tacurong City against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, DA-12 finance officer and accountant, respectively, as masterminds. Meanwhile, the New York Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the issuance of arrest warrants by Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat Regional Trial Court Judge Melanio S. Guerrero of Branch 20 against the 2 accused, amid the case hearing on October 27, 2008.[8] Tacurong RTC Judge Melanio Guerrero ordered the 2 accused to file a response within 10 days. The 2 DA officials, however, filed a motion to dismiss or to quash the case.[9][10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Asia Cases 2005". Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Farewell, Erin Brockovich". Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Sun.Star General Santos - Marlene Garcia Esperat: Madame Witness Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "One Year after her Murder, No Justice for 'Erin Brockovich'". Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  5. ^ sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Sun.Star General Santos - Lawyer in Esperat murder case upbeat Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b February 12 2008 Archived December 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "CPJ welcomes arrest warrants in Esperat case". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "2 DA execs charged with Esperat's slay". Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  10. ^ sunstar.com.ph, Court hands arrest warrants to journalist's slay suspects Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
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