Provincial fiscal trashes 2 cases of libel filed vs. broadcaster

After a reinvestigation, the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office reversed its earlier resolution finding probable cause to indict a radio commentator for the crime of libel.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved prosecutor Napoleon Alburo’s recommendation exonerating Apolinario “Jun” Arigo Jr. of the two counts of libel filed by the principal of the Tuburan National High School.

The case stemmed from Arigo’s alleged malicious commentaries against Clavel Salinas aired twice over Bantay Radyo, first on March 20 and then on March 22, last year.

Arigo allegedly branded Salinas of being “thick-faced and shameless” for collecting money from students for the construction of the school fence and gate but used the money instead for her personal benefit.

After Salinas filed the case against Arigo, the prosecution on May 16 indicted Arigo for two counts of libel.

The accused moved for a reinvestigation of the case and recently, the prosecution found no sufficient ground to sue Arigo for libel after all.

Petralba said the complainant failed to present the tape of Arigo’s broadcast containing the alleged defamatory words against her.

The prosecutor also resolved that Arigo showed no desire to inflict unjustifiable harm on Salina’s reputation, as he was just moved by his sense of duty to expose and denounce what he perceived to be public deception.

“The fair commentaries on matters of public interest are considered privileged communications, which had a genesis not in the penal code but in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech and of the presses,” the resolution read.  — Fred P. Languido/RAE