Leo Lastimosa

Leo Andanar Lastimosa (born September 26, 1964) is a Filipino journalist. He was a former anchorman for ABS-CBN's regional television news program TV Patrol Central Visayas, former radio host of the current affairs program Arangkada on radio station DYAB, and columnist for The Freeman and Banat daily newspapers.

Early life Lastimosa is the son of a farmer and a public school teacher. Growing up in poverty in Talisay, he had a dream of becoming a writer. During high school, he decided to submit an unsolicited article to the publisher of The Freeman, a local daily in Cebu. His submission was published the next day, an event that encouraged him to pursue a journalistic career.

He earned a degree in political science at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, through a scholarship from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). Later, he enrolled at the University of San Carlos College of Law as a scholar (of Wilfredo “Baby” Camomot), but did not proceed to finish.

Career His professional journalism career began in 1985 at DYLA-AM. He later moved to another radio station, DYRF. During the height of the first EDSA revolution, he played a role in the newsroom operations at the radio station. In 1995, he became a news director in the newly-launched radio station, DYAB, and started hosting the regular television program, Banat Visayas, Sulong Mindanao. He claimed he had received death threats in the course of his journalistic career.

In 2003, he became an anchor for TV Patrol Central Visayas, which aired on ABS-CBN 3 Cebu. He also began writing a column called Arangkada in The Freeman, a local daily newspaper, using the Cebuano language.

Decriminalizing libel

In 2007, then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed a libel case against Lastimosa. The suit alleged that Garcia was the subject of his column entitled Doling Kawatan (Doling the Thief) that was published on The Freeman last June 29, 2007. On August 27, 2010, Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Raphael Yrastorza signed a warrant of arrest against Lastimosa, who then posted bail. Lastimosa denied that Garcia was the subject of the article. He lost his appeal as the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision. Attorney Celso Espinosa, his counsel, filed a motion for reconsideration to reverse the ruling of the appellate court.

This libel case, as well as other similar high-level cases filed against journalists in the country, prompted renewed calls to decriminalize libel in defense of press freedom.

CIDG subpoena On August 17, 2018, Lastimosa appeared in the regional office of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Central Visayas in response to a subpoena that directed him to provide a copy of his interview with Senator Antonio Trillanes on his radio show last September 8, 2017. The subpoena came after former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, requested the police to obtain a copy of the interview as evidence in court for a libel case he was filing against Trillanes who accused him for being involved in Php 6.2 billion shabu shipment in 2016. one of the suspects of the murder of the Chiong sisters in the 1990s.

Journalist in Online Media After the shutdown of ABS-CBN, Lastimosa eventually became a news commentator in online media, independent of an established news outfit. He is among a number of journalists who are now becoming content creators. He livestreams everyday primarily in his YouTube channel. In the morning he goes live with Baruganan (Stand) and in the evening with Panahum sa Kilom-Kilom (Opinion at Dusk). About a lover's hopes and fears for a beloved, the song was put into music by Emilio Villareal.

Lastimosa married to practitioner Iris Jakosalem.

Awards Lastimosa has won numerous awards and recognition for his work. Notably, the Talisay City Council passed a resolution congratulating him for his win at 2005 KBP Golden Dove Awards citing his "commendable competence, integrity and fairness in the field of newscasting and showed his dedication and deep love for his country and people by his humble service as a media man." Best TV Newscaster, The 14th Golden Dove Awards of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Garbo Sa Sugbo, by the Cebu Provincial Government in the field of broadcast journalism and television Outstanding Talisaynon, by the Talisay City Government in the field of media. Best Commentary Program (Kuwentas Klaras), KBP Golden Dove Awards, 2002 Best TV News Program, Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA-Manila), 2005

Filmography

Television

Radio YearTitleRoleChannelUntil 2020ArangkadaCommentary AnchorDYAB DYAB Radyo Patrol BalitaNews AnchorKasayurang KinuykoyanCommentary Anchor