Neither the monkey nor the Filipino deserves the sweeping slander.
Cebu City prosecutors cleared an American national named, believe it, Robert Browning who was charged with grave oral defamation.
This Browning, in an argument, told lawyer Edmondo Gobonseng, “You Filipinos are stupid monkeys. F..k you, f..k you all.”
Marla Barcenilla, asst. prosecutor who investigated the complaint, didn’t say the statement wasn’t defamatory. She let him walk for another reason: The insult doesn’t identify Gobonseng or any individual in particular.
Unqualified
Too impersonal, Fiscal Marla said, for Gobonseng to say he was the one referred to by Browning.
Marla, with two fiscals affirming her ruling, apparently relies on Supreme Court wisdom that says ugly remarks about a group must be “all-embracing or sufficiently specific” for the victim to be identifiable.
Not all-embracing? “You all,” propped with the F word, couldn’t be more all-embracing. Not specific? Who else could have Browning meant when he said that in Gobonseng’s face?
Radio commentators use an escape route. When they call, say, fiscals corrupt, they add, “puwera sa ubang mga buotan (except others who are good).” Browning’s slander was unqualified.
Next time a foreigner says “you Filipinos are stupid monkeys,” don’t go to the fiscals who believe it’s not a crime.
If you can’t beat up the guy because he’s bigger, ask Immigration to ship him out of the country pronto.
What the heck is Browning doing here, living with stupid monkeys?
