Angeles mayor files libel vs broadcaster

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has formally filed a libel case against block-time broadcaster Medardo "Med" David, host of "Gulpe de Gulat" aired over local radio station gvFM-AM before the Angeles City Prosecutor's Office. 

Also included in the complaint were co-hosts Reynaldo "Rey" Gueco and Fred Cortez.

In his complaint filed on January 14, Pamintuan alleged that he has been "subject of respondents' malicious imputations, schemes and libelous remarks designed to destroy, if not blemish, my reputation since September 3, 2012."

Pamintuan submitted transcriptions of David's program from September 3 to 21, 2012, which indicated David has repeatedly referred to Pamintuan as "pikbung" (lintik, in Filipino), "kautak lang buwaya" (utak buwaya), "talagang mapanako ing pikbungan na ning alting makaluklok sa city hall. Mapanako ya!" (talagang magnanakaw ang tinamaan ng lintik na nakaupo sa City Hall. Magnanakaw siya!), among others that Pamintuan said were downright libelous.

According to lawyer Alberto Pamintuan III, the mayor's son and legal counsel, David et al have already been directed by the City Prosecutor's Office to file their counter affidavits not later than January 29.

"The mayor respects and upholds freedom of the press and expression.  Remember that he was a human rights lawyer. But in the case of David et al, they abused such freedoms in order to malign Mayor Pamintuan and even Mrs. Pamintuan, in some cases. They have, in fact, stepped up their libelous tirades, even as they are obviously acting as the attack dogs of the main political opponent of the mayor," the lawyer said.

The younger Pamintuan said the case is only the first of several libel cases he is working on.

"This case only covers David's libelous statements in September last year. We are now transcribing the text of his subsequent broadcasts and monitoring him till today. We will be filing more charges against him and his co-hosts in the coming days," he added.

City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan, himself a lawyer, meanwhile said the libel case against David is a signal that the mayor will now start filing legal actions against those who are maligning and perjuring him. 

"We were not just threatening when we said we will file charges against those who are spreading lies against the mayor," he said.

David is also under probe by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) following a complaint filed by Mar Velasco, president of the Federation of Parents-Teachers Association in Angeles City.

In his complaint, Velasco said David’s frequent use of foul language in his radio program is a violation of the KBP broadcast code and ethical standards.