President’s friend files libel suit vs the Times

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Presidential pal and businessman Lepeng Wee has filed a libel case against the Manila Times and the Bureau of Customs’ district collector here over a report linking him to the smuggling of 39 drums of chemicals from Malaysia.

Lepeng, former presidential consultant for Mindanao’s economic affairs, named as respondents Manila Times executives Cipriano Roxas, editor-in-chief; Jose Macaspac, executive editor; Ernesto Tolentino, managing editor; Manolo Jara, associate editor; Inday Espina-Varona, city editor; Rene Bartolo, Mindanao bureau chief; and Carmelito Francisco, Bartolo’s deputy; Faber Concepcion, the Times’ Zamboanga correspondent; and lawyer Lourdes Mangaong, the Customs’ district collector.

The case stemmed from an article in the Manila Times’ Dec. 15, 2000 issue titled "Get Smuggler Wee," which was based on Concepcion’s supposed interview with Mangaong over the smuggling of 39 drums of chemicals from Malaysia.

"It is very clear from the publication that I was portrayed as a smuggler and a law violator, a criminal who flaunts the law when in truth and in fact, I have nothing to do with the incident, and my name was simply and unduly dragged into the mess," said Lepeng in the six-page libel complaint he filed with the city prosecutor’s office last Friday.

Lepeng said Concepcion failed to get his side. He plans to file a P10-million damage suit after the libel case is resolved.

Meanwhile, Lepeng denied having any hand in the upcoming publication of a book by Malaysian businessman Yusop Hamdan who will reportedly accuse a Filipino government official of pocketing part of the ransom money given to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the release of Malaysian hostages.

"Yusop Hamdan is not a close friend of mine. I only came to know him during the hostage drama when Malaysian officials whom he joined, came to my house to ask for help," he said.