Puno denies courting media with order on libel

MALOLOS CITY – Chief Justice Reynato Puno denied yesterday he was trying to court the media when he issued the memorandum circular that calls for fines rather than jail terms for journalists charged with libel.

“It was based on a request sent by the National Press Club (NPC), we just acted on it,” he told The STAR after speaking to hundreds of Bulacan State University students here at the end of a week-long forum commemorating the 109th celebration of the Malolos Constitution.

He said had the NPC not sent the request, he would have not issued the circular.

The chief magistrate also noted his circular became so controversial that he was even accused of usurping the power of the legislature to craft laws.

“That’s not true,” he said.

He stressed that libel remains if there are justifying circumstances, but it would be better to just fine the journalist charged with libel.

Earlier, Puno said the Constitution ratified by the Malolos Congress on Jan. 21, 1899 was the first Philippine Constitution crafted by Filipinos.

He said it contained libertarian principles like justice, freedom and the greater good for the greater number of people.

The Chief Justice noted that these principles were also mirrored in the 1935, 1972 and the 1987 Constitutions.

“The Malolos Constitution was written by representatives of the people and reflects the aspirations of all the Filipinos,” he said.

With regard its contents, Puno said its most important provision dealt with sovereignty, which he described as “not in the hands of anyone, but the people.”

Justice Angelina Gutierrez said in her closing remarks that the Malolos Constitution appeared to be the best Constitution the country ever had.

However, historians said it was not given a chance to be implemented because the Americans fired the first shot that triggered the Filipino-American War two weeks later.