Playing with Fire
Watch out, Mr. Pontaoe!
By Gonzalo Duque
IN the Punch On-line, certain contributor by the name of Pontaoe has the nasty habit of picking a fight by maligning the names and columnists in this prestigious paper.
I have asked my lawyers to study how we can avail ourselves of a new law, Electronic Commerce Act, to deal with this crackpot soon because he has abused this paper’s hospitality.
Those who have read his devilish write-ups wonder if he is sick in the mind, so that some of my neighbor columnists would rather dismiss the canard’s business because he is sick. Not me. Because he has been trying to bring ruin to our school.
Being a lawyer myself, I know if a libel and moral damage complaint will stick. I will focus my energies here because this guy who belongs to some good friends in Pangasinan because he is a Pontaoe, has been abusing the right to privilege communications. I am sure the punk deserves a slap on the face. But I’ll do it in the legal arena, through the ECA.
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!
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Still in the field of jurisprudence, I am glad that the Dagupan City fiscal gave due course to our complaint of libel against Catherine Castañeda and Marilyn Lorenzo of the Commission on Higher Education.
Subject of our complaint is a published news article in the Manila Times about Castañeda and Lorenzo who made statements that our school was going to be closed by CHED.
Also included in our complaint is a certain Mr. Hicap, a correspondent of the Manila Times, for his malicious, damaging and libelous article.
We already won the first round, and we intend to win the second, third and the final round to ensure their landing in jail. I have also asked our lawyers to bring to the ombudsman a complaint against these people, including resigned chairman of the technical panel of CHEd, Marilyn Lorenzo for continuously maligning us. We had filed against the Ched which has recently nullified the Ched-imposed 30% ceiling to be effected only for the assessment year 2005-2008 vis a vis the results of the board examinations for nursing.
The court decision was brilliantly penned by RTC Judge Rolando Mislang.
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As a faithful believer and staunch advocate of press freedom I don’t really mind anybody’s adverse reaction in connection with our column writing.
But at the very least I expect critics to observe the boundary of fair comment and libel if only to uphold democracy and freedom in our country.
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I will be away beginning next week to visit our LNU alumni in the United States. We are expected to assemble in Dagupan City, in our school and other places on January 4, 2007. It will be a grand homecoming.
I also intend to confer with the officers and members of the Philippine Medical Association of Georgia who are definitely coming to Pangasinan on Feb. 1 as part of their medical mission. The group and Regional Medical Center Director Jess Canto have corresponded in detail about this medical mission in which 80 surgeons coordinated by my sister Dr. Grace Duque-Dizon have committed their trip to the Philippines.
Their arrival will coincide with the inauguration of the renovated conference room of the Regional Medical Center.
In all candor and humility, conference room was donated by our family, a sizeable portion coming from my sister Grace. In behalf of the family I wish to thank Dr, Jess Canto for naming it Dr. Francisco Q. Duque and Mrs. Florencia T. Duque Conference Hall. The hall can accommodate 500 people, and I was informed by Jess that it will be used for scientific lectures and meetings of the RMC staff.
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I really missed the Punch anniversary party last Saturday. But I had texted and called up Ermin and Jun V that the timing wouldn’t allow my physical presence.
I am happy to learn that Al Mendoza and his writer wife Sol Juvida made it to the party. Mayroon daw sayawan at kantahan. Sayang talaga. Sa ibang araw di ako papayag na wala ako.
Congrats, Punch people and guests!
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