Calvin Tan's lawyer sues writer, publisher for libel

The lawyer of suspected drug financier Calvin Tan yesterday filed before the city prosecutor's office a libel complaint against a columnist and the publisher of Cebu Daily News.

Lawyer William de los Santos, in his three-page complaint-affidavit, alleged that on the April 26 issue of the newspaper, the column of Lloyd Suarez was "attended with malice and the imputation was directed to him and to his client."

The lawyer claimed as libelous parts of Suarez's column: "Angayan lang sab nga mopakita og moral support ang atong mga huwes ngadto ni Judge Yap kay akong tan-aw si Tan nangita gyud ug paagi nga malangay ang iyang kaso ug iyang itugyan kini ngadto sa huwes nga ilang mabayran" ("It is but proper only for the judges to give moral support to Judge Yap because as I can see it, Tan will always find ways to delay the proceedings of his case and transfer this to any judge who can be bought by them.")

Suarez' column was about the motion for inhibition of Judge Marilyn Yap of the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Mandaue City from the case of Tan, who was alleged to be the financer of the raided shabu laboratories in barangays Umapad and Paknaan in Mandaue City.

De los Santos also included in his complaint Eileen Mangubat, the paper's publisher who is also the acting editor-in-chief.

De los Santos claimed that since Tan is currently in jail, Suarez's baseless and malicious article caused dishonor, discredit and contempt not just to his client but also to him.

De los Santos contended that Suarez's statement necessarily implied that he, as Tan's lawyer, would bribe the judge to whom the case will be transferred.

"With all humility, as a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, I have not bribed, and will not bribe any member of the judiciary, for which reason, the said article has indeed caused dishonor, discredit and contempt to my person," De los Santos' affidavit reads.

De los Santos also requested for a preliminary investigation and the information for libel be filed in court by the prosecutor's office against Suarez and Mangubat.

The lawyer also reserved his right to file a separate and independent civil action against the two and will also file an administrative case against the journalists in Manila based on the allegedly defamatory newspaper article.

Suarez, when asked for comment, said he welcomed the complaint and will only answer it in the proper forum. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan