Sara Duterte denies Bello’s claims that she is behind cyber libel raps

MANILA. Activist Walden Bello and Vice President Sara Duterte. (Photos from Facebook pages of Bello and Duterte)
MANILA. Activist Walden Bello and Vice President Sara Duterte. (Photos from Facebook pages of Bello and Duterte)

VICE President Sara Duterte denied on Tuesday, August 8, the accusation of activist and former rival for the vice-presidency Walden Bello that she is behind the charges filed by her former aide in Davao City.

"I have never filed a libel case in my life. Criticisms do not deserve even a backward glance because the accomplishments of Davao City under my leadership are already set in stone," Duterte said in a statement.

Bello was arrested on Monday, August 8, 2022, over cyber libel charges. He posted bail worth P96,000 as recommended by the court.

The charges against Bello were filed by Jefry Tupas, the former public information officer of the Davao City Government during the Vice President's time as mayor.

Bello accused Tupas of involvement in illegal drugs and posted it on his social media account.

This came after Tupas attended a birthday party in which police found P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs.

Tupas had left the party before the police came for the conduct of a raid where 17 people were arrested. Tupas resigned and, at the same time, was fired by Duterte.

Bello earlier labeled Tupas’ cyber libel complaint as “politically motivated.”

Duterte, meanwhile, advised her former fellow candidate to stop "playing the victim of an imaginary case of political persecution."

"Instead of deflecting blame, playing the victim of an imaginary case of political persecution, and dragging me into his legal woes, I suggest that Mr. Bello be reminded of the fact that a civilized and democratic society does not respect hubris," she said.

The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte also asked Bello to stop dragging her in his issue.

"Mr. Bello should focus on salvaging what remains of his dignity and self-respect, I am asking him to stop obsessing over me — and stop blaming me for his fall from grace," Duterte said.

She said she was taught by his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to never listen to attacks hurdled against their family.

She said that the right to freedom of speech and expression does not protect anyone from defiling the name and reputation of others.

Duterte also said that by tagging the charges as “silly,” Bello is insulting the prosecutors, as well as the time and effort they put in to uphold the rule of law.

“Mr. Bello -- supposedly a respected international educator in the human rights activist -- took it so low and displayed a disgraceful version of himself, making him the perfect poster boy of someone we hope our children will not become when they grow up,” she said.

The longtime activist, in response to the Vice President's statement, insisted that she is behind Tupas' filing.

"Vice President Sara Duterte's response to my arrest evades the central issue: that she is the moving force behind this brazen effort to subvert my freedom of speech," Bello said.

During his arrest on Monday, he Tweeted: “Arrested late afternoon Monday on silly charge of cyber libel posted by the camp of Sara Duterte. These people are mistaken if they think they can silence me and suppress my exercise of free speech.”

He maintained that Duterte did not address the matter in her statement.

“The cyber libel charge against me was a vindictive response to questions I raised about Vice President Duterte’s performance as mayor of Davao that she was expected to answer as a candidate for higher office,” said Bello.

“Instead of engaging in democratic exchange, her camp weaponized the law by filing a cyber libel case against me, declaring me persona non grata in Davao and branded me a narco politician...Flowery rhetoric will not disguise Sara Duterte’s assault on a fundamental democratic right. She should act in a manner that befits a vice president and cease disgracing herself and her office by her futile defense of an indefensible act,” he added.

Bello previously challenged Duterte in a debate during the 2022 election campaign to address the issues that hound the latter's governance as mayor for nine years.

But Duterte declined to participate in the debates, and instead focused on attending political rallies.

Bello was declared persona non grata by the 19th Davao City for his statement during the CNN Philippines Vice Presidential debate.

Meanwhile, SunStar Davao reached out to Caesar S. Europa, Tupas' lawyer, in response to Bello's arrest.

He, however, only responded: "It's part of the process." (With SunStar Philippines)

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