4 counts of libel: Drilon sues journalist

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Senate President Franklin Drilon filed four counts of libel against his former staff Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, who is also a columnist of a newspaper in this city.

Supposedly, the first preliminary hearing will be on October 1, but it was reset to October 8 at the Hall of Justice in Pasay City after Mejorada failed to attend the hearing.

Drilon, who was in Iloilo Wednesday for the Iloilo River Development Council meeting, said Mejorada, his former consultant and media relations officer in Iloilo, has, in a WordPress blog, maliciously implicated him to crimes punishable under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The senator said Mejorada accused him of not complying with the bidding procurement for the architectural design of the Iloilo Convention Center then posted a picture of the earth-filling project in the Iloilo Circumferential road in Ungka of Pavia town,

Mejorada described the picture as “Drilon’s version of the Macapagal-Boulevard” and claimed the project as overpriced, he said.

Drilon also said Mejorada dragged his name in the Parola Terminal Ferry Project, for which the latter accused the senator of pushing through with the project even if it violated several laws. Mejorada also called the project as overflowing with corruption, he said.

“Mejorada clearly identified me as the person subject of WorldPress article. Clearly, the article was intended to defame no other but me,” said Drilon.

Drilon added that all the elements of libel to charge Mejorada with the crime under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code are present in this case. (FREEMAN)