Joy Belmonte nagsampa ng libel vs Manoling Morato, tabloid execs
MANILA, Philippines — Alinsunod na rin sa kanyang kampanya na labanan ang fake news, naghain si Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte ng kasong libel sa QC prosecutor’s office laban kay dating Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Director Manuel “Manoling” Morato at dating Congressman Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. dahil sa isang “factually incorrect” at malisyosong pahayag ukol sa isang kaso na dati nang na-dismiss ng Office of the City Prosecutor.
Ang nasabing pahayag na pinamagatang “JOY BELMONTE: SWAK SA GRAFT” ay inilathala sa tabloid na Saksi noong ika-15 ng Pebrero.
“I have decided to file a libel case against Saksi and also against Mr. Manuel “Manoling” Morato - who serves as the source for the story- for the publication of the article,” sinabi ni Belmonte.
Kasama rin sa mga respondent sa kaso ang sumulat ng artikulo na si Joel Amongo at ang mga publisher ng Saksi na sina dating Congressman Lagdameo, Atty. Victor Rodriguez, Mina Satorre, Tess Sorsogon, Lito Tugadi, Jesus Galang, Eralyn Prado, Virgina Romano at Ruben Banares.
“I am confident that I will be cleared of these false accusations, so I have filed the case to do justice to the truth and, more importantly, show that there is no space for “fake news” and disinformation in Quezon City,” sabi ni Belmonte.
Sa kanyang libel complaint, binatikos ni Belmonte si Morato dahil sa salaysay nito na nagsasabing nagbigay raw si Belmonte ng “special permit” sa pagpapagawa ng 21-storey building sa Quezon City na magbibigay ng “undue favor” sa kanyang mga kapatid. Ayon kay Belmonte, maling-mali ang salaysay ni Morato.
“First of all, I cannot unilaterally pass a resolution as Vice Mayor of Quezon City. It is a collegial act – an act which requires the participation of the whole City Council – to which I am only a presiding officer. My role as presiding officer is merely to administer the sessions,” paliwanag ni Belmonte.
Dagdag pa niya, “At the time the questioned resolution was passed, I was not even the presiding officer. It cannot be stressed enough that the resolution does not contain my signature.”
Ipinaliwanag din ng bise alkalde na ang mga permit para sa istruktura ay isinumite ng Sta. Lucia Realty sa ilalim ng isang joint venture kasama si Jose Morato, na kapatid ni Manuel Morato.
Inireklamo rin ni Belmonte ang Saksi dahil sa pagpayag nilang ilathala ang nasabing headline na nagpapahiwatig na may sala na si Belmonte, ngunit ni hindi pa naman niya natatanggap ang kopya ng reklamo ni Morato.
“As of this time, I have received no such complaint as the Office of the Ombudsman has not yet established whether the complaint itself has substance,” sabi ng bise alkalde.
Ayon kay Belmonte, ang ginagawa ni Morato ay humahantong na lang sa “forum shopping”.
“For the above points, I have provided all documentary evidence; I will simply let these speak for themselves,” dagdag ni Belmonte
Sinabi pa ng bise alkalde, “It is unfortunate that Mr. Morato, the author of the article and the newspaper’s publisher had resorted to this course of action for their own monetary gain, political clout, or false prestige. Throughout my years as a public servant, I have always regarded press freedom as one of the foundations of a healthy, democratic society, but when that freedom impinges on the truth, then we - as public servants - must work to place the pursuit of truth above all else,” ani Belmonte.
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