Int?l media group reacts on P30-M libel case filed by Pacman vs sportswriter
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Aug 2007
Saying the libel charges will smother media's freedom of speech, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called again for defamation law reform in the Philippines, after the latest round of libel cases against journalists, including the P30-million criminal case boxing icon Manny Pacquiao filed against a sportswriter and his editors, which threaten to suffocate the country's freedom of expression.
Pacquiao filed libel suit filed on July 30, against four staff of national daily the Manila Bulletin: sports writer Nick Giongco, publisher Hermogenes P. Pobre, editor-in-chief Crispulo J. Icban Jr., and sports editor Ding Marcelo, for allegedly attacking his "virtue and reputation."
The article in dispute was written by Giongco, which refers to the alleged compulsive gambling of Pacquiao, an unsuccessful candidate for a congressional seat in South Cotabato's first district elections last May.
IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park says such allegations could be viewed as "blatant attempts to disarm the media of its role as an information provider to the public for the self-interest of particular individuals or organizations."
The Manila Bulletin staff members who are being sued by Giongco could be facing a prison sentence as a result of libel in the Philippines still being classified as a criminal offence.
"The IFJ views the threats as attempts to thwart the media's role as an independent and critical estate, and therefore, the public's right to know," Park said.
"The libel laws in the Philippines currently dictate that any information revealed by journalists which is deemed to be damaging to an organization or individual personally, is allowed to be legally convicted, at the same time restricting the public's right to this information and the very function of the media in providing an invaluable and independent service to the public," Park said
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