Thursday, November 23, 2006 42 of 43 journalists sued by Mike file P5M damage suit
FORTY-TWO of the 43 media persons sued for libel by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo yesterday agreed to file a suit against him for abusing his powers to file libel cases and for violating the rights of journalists.
Lawyer Harry Roque, the group’s counsel, briefed some of the journalists on the case at the Malcolm Hall at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus. He said the suit is “an unprecedented social experiment but a worthwhile endeavor.”
“We are sending a very strong message to the First Gentleman and other public officials that media won’t take it sitting down when the right to file a libel case is abused,” he said.
Roque said Mr. Arroyo, in filing a slew of libel cases, is not out to defend his honor but to “chill and intimidate media.”
He also said the First Gentleman, being a lawyer, strengthens the case of abuse of power because he knows the dynamics and limitations of filing a libel case but he persisted.
Malaya publisher Amado “Jake” Macaset did not sign the petition.
“I think this civil suit should also teach somebody a lesson,” said Luis Teodoro, former dean of the UP College of Mass Communication.
Roque said Mr. Arroyo is liable for damages under the Civil Code and that the case is expected to be filed before a Makati City court next week.
He said the journalists will initially seek minimum damages of P5 million because of funding problems on raising the filing fee.
There was a suggestion to ask for P87 million, or a symbolic P1 per Filipino, but it would entail P1.7 million in filing fees.
Roque said the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and an international group of journalists have committed to pay the filing fee of P100,000 for the P5 million damages.
He and Newsbreak editor-in-chief Maritess Vitug appealed to media practitioners to join their colleagues in the class suit and to help them raise the needed funds for higher damages.
However, Roque said politicians will not be allowed to donate, including the United Opposition which is offering to shoulder the amount.
If the media persons win the case, the damages will be placed in a trust fund for the welfare of journalists and their families.
Roque also said the case is also a pre-requisite for the filing of a suit before the UN Commission on Human Rights, which requires that domestic remedies must be exhausted before cases could be filed before the international body.
Lawyer Ruy Rondain, counsel of Mr. Arroyo, said he is excited to see the “garbage case” that will be filed by the journalists, adding that they will file a counter-charge once the suit is filed.
He said the First Gentleman did not violate the civil rights of any journalist and that he just exercised his right to file a libel case.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, for his part, said the class suit is a “private matter” that should be answered by the First Gentleman and his lawyers. (Sunnex)
