DOJ recommends dismissal of P20M libel suit vs. Choi Torralba

The Department of Justice has recently upheld radioman's Cirse Torralba's petition to review the P20-million libel suit that businessman Wellington Lim filed against him.

Torralba said he received Friday afternoon a copy of the DOJ decision, which also ordered the city prosecutor's office to inform the court and move for the dismissal of the case.

Secretary Raul Gonzalez signed the 11-page order, which also reversed an earlier recommendation of chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zunio favoring the indictment of Torralba in court.

While the case reached the Regional Trial Court, Torralba filed at the DOJ a petition for review of the case and, pending its resolution, Judge Sylvia Paderanga ordered to hold in abeyance the issuance of the arrest warrant against Torralba.

Wellington Lim accused Torralba of airing, over the radio on January 2005, libelous commentaries imputing him and his brother Peter to have involvement in the illegal drug trade.

"The commentaries in question come within the framework of the Constitutional guarantee of press freedom," Secretary Gonzales said however in his recent order.

"Lipay kaayo ko nga nipabor nako si Secretary Gonzales kay dili man gyud to malicious ang akong mga commentaries and I stand for my comments, kay tanan akong gibase sa congressional hearing diin gipatawag ang mga Lim brothers," Torralba said.

Torralba said he believed the testimonies of Ananias Dy and Bernard Liu, former employees of the Lim brothers, that they allegedly brought kilos of shabu from Hong Kong together with the Lim brothers.

The lawyer of the Lim brothers has not received a copy of the DOJ order yet because he is reportedly out of the country.

Torralba said, "Ako concerned kaayo ko aning drugs kay akong anak nako nga lalaki nabiktima ani. Ug dili nato hingusgan ang kampanya batok sa illegal drugs, mag unsa na lang ang kaugmaon sa atong mga bata." - Ramil V. Ayuman