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Friday, June 06, 2008
Palace denies hand in Olivares libel verdict
MANILA -- Malacañang said it has nothing to do with the conviction meted by a local court against The Daily Tribune publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares, who was sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment for the charge of libel.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has not consulted the Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo and Angcangco law firm, formerly the Carpio, Villaraza and Cruz, for several years now.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Bunye added that the Arroyo administration "holds press freedom as one of our core values."
"However, press freedom like all other rights is not absolute. The power of the pen must be wielded with responsibility. It must never be used to destroy reputations especially when private individuals are involved," he said.
Related story:
Court finds Tribune publisher guilty of libel
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez also branded reports that Malacañang may have a hand in the meting out of the sentence as speculation, following previous association of the government with the law firm.
Golez said Olivares was accorded with due process including her chance to explain and defend herself in court.
Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Winlove Dumayas sentenced Olivares to six months to two years in prison in connection with the libel case filed by the law firm. In 2003, the accused came out with an article alleging that then ombudsman Simeon Marcelo chose people "connected" to the law firm to handle the case of Asia's Emerging Dragons Corp. (AEDC) against former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications.
AEDC is bidding for the controversial Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 project.
Olivares was also ordered to pay P5 million for damages and P33,732 for civil damages to the law firm.
The court said it finds the article defamatory and the first element of libel is present. It added that the publication of the article is attended with malice in fact and in bad faith.
During media interviews, Olivares through her lawyer Alexis Mina said they will pursue all legal remedies to reverse the ruling.
Mina already filed a petition asking the court to release her client on provisional liberty and be granted bail using the P10,000 bond earlier posted during the course of the trial.
According to the lawyer, Olivares is willing to be put in the "custody" of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on "recognizance" while they are appealing the case. (JMR/AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 6, 2008 issue)
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