Maguindanao results defended

Journalists who accused First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of stifling press freedom will pursue legal action against him, despite his promise to drop libel cases against them.

In a statement released yesterday, the journalists said that though Arroyo deserves sympathy after his heart surgery last month, it does not mean they would withdraw the class suit against him.

Marites Vitug, editor of the Newsbreak magazine, alleged that Arroyo had sought to “erode the watchdog function of the press” by suing the journalists.

“That is anathema in a democracy,” she said.

Ellen Tordesillas, a columnist for Malaya newspaper and among those Arroyo had sued, said the lawsuit against him was not to counter the libel charges, but a defense of press freedom.

“The fact is, nobody no matter how influential or wealthy he is, has the right to suppress the right of journalists to press freedom and the right of the public to know,” she said.

Arroyo’s promise to drop his legal action was a “mere press relations move,” as no case has been withdrawn yet, Tordesillas said.

Rogel Rayel, legal counsel of the journalists, informed yesterday Judge Zenaida Laguilles of the Makati Regional Trial Court, branch 143, that his clients have no intention of withdrawing the class action against Arroyo.

“The plaintiffs met last Friday and decided to pursue the case,” he said.

 Laguilles asked the complainants to clarify whether they intend to pursue the suit after it was reported that Arroyo had withdrawn the libel cases he filed against them.

Vergel Santos, former Center of Media Freedom and Responsibility  director,  one of the complainants, also expressed reservation about the reported withdrawal.

“Apparently, Mr. Arroyo has had a dubious epiphany,” Santos said.

“Instead of realizing, as might have been the case in a true chastening, that he has filed whimsical, malicious, wholesale suits, and apologizing, he presents himself as in fact the one wronged and offers yet to forgive. That is adding insult to injury, and it serves only to strengthen our intention to proceed with our suit for damages in behalf of our profession.”

Santos said Arroyo is “out to erode the watchdog function of the press by filing the libel suits.”

“We’re trying to build the press as an institution that will function vigorously as part of the checks and balances in our system,” Santos said.

“As it is, we already operate in difficult conditions, where vested interest dominate some media organizations and the culture of impunity casts its dark shadow on us. Today, we face a new battleground – in the courts.”

Laguilles admonished Arroyo’s counsel, Arnel Valenia for asking for a deferment of yesterday’s proceedings for 30 days to give time to the Court of Appeals to resolve their petition for certiorari questioning several amendments made by the complainants to the original complaint.