Newsmen file counter-affidavit on P20M libel case

March 15, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Kapampangan journalists and media workers have filed a counter-affidavit on the P20-million libel case filed by businessman Renato Romero.
Caesar Lacson, editorial consultant of the regional newspaper Punto! Central Luzon, filed his counter-affidavit before the City Prosecutor’s Office at the Capitol Compound on Monday.
Lacson filed the affidavit along with Punto! general manager Gener Endona, editor Joey Aguilar, and marketing manager Joanna Nina Cordero.
“I filed a counter-affidavit for two points. First, for procedural purposes and second, to defend the context of my story,” Lacson said.
He was pertaining to his rejoinder article, titled “Romero Ululating,” that first came out in Sun.Star Pampanga on December 14 as a letter to the editor. The same story was published in Punto.
When the article came out in Sun.Star Pampanga, Lacson said Romero was amused but when the article came out in their paper, he said Romero changed his reaction to being defamed.
“How can he sue Punto! without suing Sun.Star Pampanga, when the article came out first in that paper?” Lacson asked.
He even showed a dictionary defining “ululating” as “lamenting loudly” and not a direct translation of a local cuss.
Also, Lacson said his article is a fair comment because it was published to answer the lamentations of Romero after the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards (Moka) night.
Romero, vice chairman of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pamcham), has lamented about the lack of Moka awardees for the business sector.
The businessman has taken oath in support of his case on the same day, saying he has no plans of withdrawing the libel case.
Counter charge
Aside from the counter affidavit, marketing manager Cordero has filed a P500,000 counter charge against Romero for damages.
“My primary duty is to seek advertisements and subscriptions for Punto! I have nothing to do with its editorial policies, publication, content and circulation,” Cordero said.
She said the libel case has traumatized and devastated her including her family.
“It has also ruined my credibility with advertisers and subscribers of the paper,” Cordero said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Pampanga has expressed support to the regional newspaper’s beleaguered staff.
“The NUJP will always be at the forefront on the fight for press freedom as we stand by our beleaguered colleagues of Punto!” Ashley Manabat, chairman of the NUJP Pampanga, said.
No backing out
But Romero said he will not withdraw the charges despite the alleged “intervention” of some officials and personalities.
“We will pursue the case by all means. Our ultimate goal is to have them pay for damages which tarnished the image of many including me. I told those intervening that we would never back out of the case. This already is a crusade for us. We have kept silent for a long time and we will let the process of law take its course from here,” he said.
Romero, who took oath Monday before the prosecutor’s office regarding the libel case, said he’s worried and sorry for the state of local media as “it may eventually end up with the dogs.”
“Some are simply degrading the integrity of local media. They use their profession for their own interests. If this is not corrected, it will destroy the media sector,” he saad.
He added that “If these influence-peddlers go on with their practice, everything that we have gained in terms of development will be eaten up. Kaya ganoon ang concern namin ng ating mga kasama.”
Asked about their reactions, Lacson and officials of the NUJP said they would issue their counter statements later. (Charlene Cayabyab/Jovi T. De Leon)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/03/14/newsmen-file-counter-affidavit-p20m-libel-case-144821

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