Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) alumna and Davao Today columnist Margarita Valle, 61, was arrested by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City.

Valle’s son, Rius, pleaded for help in social media after declaring that the arrest was from “trumped-up charges.”

In his online post, a spot report forwarded to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Pagadian stated that Valle was detained by virtue of Warrant of Arrest for Multiple Murder with Quadruple Frustrated Murder and Damage to Government Property.

According to Maj. Napoleon Carpio of CIDG-10, Valle’s arrest was conducted by CIDG-9. No further information could be provided as the operation was not under CIDG-10’s custody.

Valle was set to return to Davao after attending a training-workshop during the arrest.

Family and colleagues are still unable to reach her through her mobile phone.

Valle is a seasoned journalist and columnist of Davao Today, an online news medium known to be critical of the Philippine government. She was also the Atenews associate editor for AY 1981-1982.