Makati judge acquits Boy Saycon of libel case

MANILA, Philippines - A Makati judge yesterday acquitted civil society group leader Pastor “Boy” Saycon who was charged with libel by the former chairman of the Public Estates Authority (PEA) in 2008.

In an eight-page decision, Judge Joselito Villarosa of the Makati City Regional Trial Court-Branch 66, said “the prosecution evidence failed to establish his (Saycon) guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and is hereby acquitted.”   

“Accused has no duty to prove his innocence. The prosecution must rely on the strength of its own evidence and not on the weakness of the defense to obtain a favorable ruling. Since the evidence-in-chief failed to overcome the constitutionally guaranteed presumption of innocence to convict accused, and considering that evidence did not categorically point to accused as the one who uttered such allegedly libelous remarks/statements.”

Villarosa likewise noted that complainant, former PEA chairman Ernest F. Villareal, who claimed to have been libeled remained complacent after the publication of the said news article and did nothing to deny the alleged libelous statement made against him.

Court records showed that on Aug. 21, 2008, Villareal filed a complaint against Saycon of the Council of Philippine Affairs who reportedly caused the publication of a defamatory news article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that discussed the alleged overpricing of the construction of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.

Villareal said the news article imputed he had committed graft and corruption, and that he received P450 million from a construction firm. “The news article had the tendency to dishonor, discredit, or contempt of the person defamed, herein private complainant.”

In his testimony, Villareal said “he have never been to the Union Bank of Perea and that he never received P450 million or any amount from JD Legaspi Conctruction firm.” For his part, Saycon testified that he was never interviewed by the Inquirer reporters who wrote the article “First Gentleman Willing to Face Probe.” He denied publishing or causing “the publication with reckless disregard of whether or not article is true and of giving readers the impression that Mr. Villareal is criminally liable.”