Department of Energy (DOE) Sec. Alfonso Cusi’s legal camp is standing by the libel case filed by the secretary against several news organizations.
This is in reference to the news articles that were released by the news agencies concerning the Malampaya shares purchase agreement.
During the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday (Dec. 8), Cusi’s legal counsel, Atty. Ruy Orendain, said that all instances that would destroy a person’s reputation may be deemed as libelous.
“Mahaba iyong definition ng libel sa batas, pero kahit hindi ka nakapag-aral, simpleng-simple lang iyan: lahat ng nakakasira ng reputasyon ay libelous,” he said.
As a defense of the said news organizations, they said that they merely reported the existing case of a group of concerned citizens against Cusi.
Orendain answered that the said case has not yet been proven and that the media reports were merely based on the press conference that happened.
Orendain said that even if there was an existing case, there are still requirements of the law.
“In any case, kahit mayroong existing na kaso, may requirements pa rin iyong bansa kung ma-shield iyong publisher ng libelous article. Kailangan i-prove nila na walang comment at mayroon dapat genuine effort to make some verification of the truth ng publication,” Orendain said. – Report from Allan Francisco/PG – bny
