NO FEAR. My crystal ball did not fail me again with my forecast in our last issue. Another four counts of libel were filed by the top man of the province against the fightingest dwPR broadcaster, Lina Cervantes, making her the highest scorer, aptly the Queen of Libel Suits, as of press time.

We asked then, who’s next? We got the answer.

Three more broadcasters reportedly received copies of the libel charges separately but I have not had the chance to verify the complaints myself, and who filed the cases. More on this next week.

“Anto’y gagawaen nen Gov ed Pangasinan media?” asked a colleague. Tsk-tsk.

As I rush this piece, I tuned in for the first time Friday to a dwPR radio program, 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. time slot. The tandem of commentators discussed the intended chilling effect of the libel suits filed by the governor.

“If we criticize, we are sued for libel. If pro-Espino announcers hit us or the nemesis of their boss, we merely respect their opinions,” they commented. Echoing the popular antics of Eat Bulaga hosts/comedians Wally Bayola et al, “Nasaan ang hustisya?” they asked.

But, sensing their feelings as well as of others concerned, the broadcasters refuse to let fear reign in their hearts. Their quiet message to their accuser: Libel pa more! – Tita Roces

 

INVOKING PRESS FREEDOM. As we were putting this issue of THE PUNCH to bed, we heard that some broadcasters in our midst were sued for libel. We were not surprised at all because we have been hearing a lot of venoms being dished out on air whether on AM or FM bands against probable candidates for another probable candidates and vice versa.

To us in print, we, too, have had our share of libel cases and all these were eventually dismissed. One such libel suit filed almost three years ago by a politician was already denied by the local prosecutor but just the same the complainant elevated it to the Department of Justice for review.

On May 16, 2015, DOJ finally resolved that the City Prosecutor of Dagupan did not commit an error in dismissing the complaint for libel against me and my colleagues.

In defending our case filed by our accuser, we invoked press freedom and the prosecutors sustained us.

Going back to our colleagues in broadcast sued for libel, I hope they can also invoke press freedom if they think they did not go beyond the bounds of decency and fair play and were only exercising their profession guaranteed them by the bill of rights in the constitution as we did.

As journalists, we have a duty to report and criticize but criticism has its limits, that is why there is libel law to protect the aggrieved. – Leonardo Micua

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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