Blogging her way to Libel: Ella's case

I am thankful for all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. ~Nancie J. Carmody

It used to be.

But lately the government is trying to go after bloggers who blog about its inefficiency. Take the case of Ella who has now a pending libel case against her because she was telling what she saw in the Department of Social Welfare and Development warehouse- hoarded relief goods.

While hundreds suffered during that terrible Ondoy and Pepeng typhoons that hit mostly the Luzon areas, DSWD was slow to distribute its relief goods from international donors saying they lack volunteers to re-pack the goods.

Blogger Ella was there, with a hidden camera to document what happened in that warehouse.

With everyone pestering the DSWD to distribute those goods, mostly after the published blog, (FYI- various private entities have already distributed theirs way ahead of that government agency that was tasked to give welfare to the people), Ella's blog confirmed how slow government acted on calamities like Ondoy and Pepeng. In fact, our government is more reactive than proactive not just in times of calamities.

And bloggers like Ella are persecuted because of this report. And maybe, just maybe, they will hunt me too.

More can be read here:

• DSWD slams blogger with libel case for posting about 'rotting' relief goods
• Solons defend blogger sued by DSWD for libel
• Do not delay the already delayed Philippine government relief goods (My blog)
• Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo (Ella's original blog)

Update from Mon Tulfo of Inquirer.net on the harassment done by DSWD to Ella: It pays to be honest.