As counsel for Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, I am writing this letter in reaction to Mr. Victor C. Agustin’s commentary in his column “Money-Go-Round†of the Business Section, March 24, 2014 issue of your newspaper sub-titled “Heard through the Grapevine†which I quote: Saying he has advance information, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim claims that the Supreme Court had already decided in his favor, ruling 8-5 that incumbent Joseph Estrada is barred from seeking any public office because of his plunder conviction. The ponente of the controversial decision is supposed to be newbie Justice Marvic Leonenâ€. (at page B-4)
At the outset, Mayor Lim strongly denies having made any such statement, much more, claimed that the High Court had already decided the pending disqualification case against Mayor Joseph Estrada docketed as GR No. 206666 entitled “Atty. Alice Risos Vidal vs. Comelec, et al.â€
Mr. Agustin’s commentary, based on pure gossip or rumor, coming as it does from his grapevine is totally false, malicious, reprehensible and, to say the least libelous, because it imputes upon Mayor Lim, an offense of authoring a contemptuous remark that is absolutely false and portrays him as a rumor-monger of a tell-tale that the Supreme Court had rendered a judgment in the case when such is not the fact.
Had he only exercised prudence, Mr. Agustin could have easily contacted my client for confirmation or even checked with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court to ascertain the truth or falsity of the rumor that his grapevine disclosed to him before coming out with his irresponsible commentary.
Mr. Agustin’s rumor-mongering is one among the numerous rumors that my client had been hearing in the past, the sources of which we had unsuccessfully traced.
Mayor Lim has no motive nor reason to circulate rumors as peddled by Mr. Agustin or those originating from similar sources. On the contrary, he patiently awaits whatever disposition on the case the Honorable Supreme Court may come up with.
Considering the serious and damaging statement that Mr. Agustin has imputed upon Mayor Lim, Mr. Agustin must retract it in writing and make apology therefor.
As a faithful adherent of the truth and devout reader of your prestigious morning daily, Mayor Lim is confident that you will give this matter a small space in your publication to vindicate his besmirched reputation.
(Sgd.) RENATO G. DE LA CRUZ
Counsel for Mayor Alfredo S. Lim