'Fashion Pulis' arrested on libel charge

MANILA - Michael Sy Lim, more popularly known as the "Fashion Pulis," has been arrested on Tuesday in connection with a libel charge filed by model Deniece Cornejo.

According to a report from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Lim was arrested at 11:30 a.m. at his home in Makati City based on a warrant earlier issued by an Antipolo City Regional Trial Court.

A bail of P16,000 has been set for Lim, who took to social media site Twitter to air his reaction.

"Held in the CIDG office. Sad how people abuse libel to curtail press freedom. #FPisFearless," he wrote.




The cyber libel charge stemmed from an article posted on Lim's website claiming that Cornejo was sick with a sexually transmitted disease, according to the model's legal counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

Cornejo earlier made headlines she accused "It's Showtime" host Vhong Navarro of sexually assaulting her on January 17 and 22. The two rape complaints have since been dismissed.

She was also detained for four months until September last year after being charged with serious illegal detention by Navarro. (READ: Deniece wants apology from Vhong) -- with a report from Raffy Santos, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sharon's petition vs Bandera editors junked

The Supreme Court (SC) reinstated the ruling of a Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) that dismissed the libel case filed by singer-actress Sharon Cuneta against the editor and associate editor of tabloid newspaper, Bandera.

In a 19-page decision by the 3rd Division penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta released to the media on Thursday, the high court reversed the Court of Appeals (CA) in giving the green light for the lower court to push through with the trial of Lito Bautista and Jimmy Alcantara.

The high court ruled that the actress “took a procedural misstep, and the view she is advancing is erroneous” because it should have been the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), not her, who should have appealed the lower court's decision. The high court said the petition before the appellate court should have been dismissed on this basis alone.

“[I]n criminal cases, the acquittal of the accused or the dismissal of the case against him can only be appealed by the Solicitor-General, acting on behalf of the State…The capability of the private complainant to question such dismissal or acquittal is limited only to the civil aspect of the case.

“Respondent [Cuneta] lacked the personality or legal standing to question the trial court’s order because it is only the OSG who can bring actions on behalf of the State in criminal proceedings, before the Supreme Court and CA," the decision read.

The high court pointed out that the petition filed before the appellate court questioned the criminal aspect of the RTC order, not its civil aspect.

Cuneta sued Bautista, Alcantara and writer Pete Ampoloquio for an article written by Ampoloquio for Bandera in 2001. Cuneta alleged that the article maligned her reputation by claiming that she had treated a supporter of her husband, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, badly.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacman slaps GenSan journalist with P75 M libel suit

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines -- Boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao has filed a P75-million libel case against a news correspondent here over a controversy involving the alleged sale of a stolen car by one of his close associates.

The alleged dealer, Mohammad “Bong” Aquia, former chief of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group in Region 12 or Central Mindanao, also filed a separate P18-million libel complaint against freelance journalist Edwin Espejo, who mainly writes for online site Asian Correspondent.

Pacquiao’s counsel filed the charges against Espejo before the City Prosecutor’s Office late Monday afternoon.

Espejo is former editor-in-chief of the defunct Sun Star daily General Santos and also contributes for the Davao-based news service MindaNews, Sun Star Davao and the Mindanao Times.

He is also chairman of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines’ South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City chapter.

Pacquiao’s case stemmed from recent articles of Espejo, which appeared at online news outfits Asian Correspondent and MindaNews, as well as in Eurasia Review, which reposted the Asian Correspondent story.

The boxing champion’s complaint cites Espejo for three counts of libel and sought P20 million in exemplary damages and another P5 million in attorney’s fees for each count.

However, none of the complaints cited the news sites on which Espejo’s articles were posted.

On Asian Correspondent, the piece was entitled, “Stolen car dealer finds refuge in Pacman mansion,” while MindaNews titled it “Dealer of stolen cars last seen in Pacman mansion."

In his articles, Espejo cited a February 26 report on www.journal.com.ph that said Aquia was about to be arrested by police at the General Santos airport but evaded the arresting officers by approaching Pacquiao, who had just arrived on a commercial flight from Manila, and boarding the boxing champion’s vehicle.

“Reports said Akia (sic) accompanied Pacquiao in the latter’s residence and has not been seen since,” Espejo quoted the Journal report as saying.

In an earlier press statement, the Philippine National Police said Aquia has been charged with violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act.

The case was filed after the Highway Patrol Group arrested a village official here for possession of a stolen Hyundai Starex van.

The village official identified Aquia as the source of the “hot car” that was allegedly stolen from a businessman in Angeles City and replaced with a license plate registered to showbiz celebrity Luis Manzano, the PNP statement said.

In his articles, Espejo wrote that Pacquiao could not be reached for comment because he is “in the US promoting his June 9 fight against American Timothy Bradley.”

Instead, Espejo wrote, he talked to Pacquiao lawyer Francisco Gacal, who said he was not aware Aquia was in the boxing champion’s residence.

“Knowing Congressman (Pacquiao) and Jinky (Paquiao’s wife), they do not allow Gensan (General Santos) guests to stay in their mansion,” Gacal was quoted as saying by Espejo.

He added that the lawyer also said he would inform Pacquiao about the report.

In the Mindanews report, Espejo also cited a statement by PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome about the busting of Aquia’s alleged syndicate, which he described as a “well-entrenched car theft ring” buying stolen motor vehicles in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and transporting them to Mindanao where they are given fraudulent Land Transportation Office registration papers and license plates.

In his affidavit of complaint, Pacquiao said he was informed about Espejo’s articles by his public information officer, Rosemarie Tamayo and, on reading them, “I was shocked and stunned to know the accusations against me made by the author, especially as the author made repeated mention of my name and portrayed me to be harboring a suspected carnapper.”

Pacquiao claimed Espejo “has intentionally and maliciously dragged my name to cause dishonor and discredit to my reputation and public image …”

He also claimed that the articles “caused me enormous shock and awe resulting to countless sleepless nights, distress and wounded feelings. It virtually tarnished my reputation in the public.”

In his own complaint, Aquia sought P10 million in moral damages, P5 million in exemplary damages and P3 million in attorney’s fees for the “enormous shock and awe resulting to sleepless nights and besmirched reputation.

source: interaksyon.com