Prosecutor pushes decriminalization of libel

MANILA, Philippines - A fiscal of the Department of Justice (DOJ is pushing for the decriminalization of libel.

“I am calling on Congress to decriminalize libel. The constitutional guarantee on free speech should not be hampered especially when it comes to the performance of duties of the media. I already talked to (Agham party-list Rep. Angelo) Palmones about this,” Emmanuel Velasco told reporters at the DOJ yesterday.

Velasco said government employees facing libel cases may also lose their chance to get promoted, citing his experience when former Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Adoracion Angeles sued him for libel.

“I considered seeking promotion or move to another position in government but I could not because of this case,” he said.

“As what the ruling of the CA (Court of Appeals) held in clearing me, government officials should not be onion-skinned. They should prove their integrity in performing their duties if they’re not guilty of any wrongdoing,” he said.

The 11th Division of the appellate court reversed the Sept.11, 2009 ruling of a Manila RTC convicting Velasco of libel over his supposed insinuation in a TV interview of case- fixing in the DOJ involving Angeles.

The CA said the RTC erred in its verdict sentencing Velasco to one year and eight months imprisonment and payment of P50 million in moral damage.

The CA said the evidence presented by the prosecution, specifically the copy of the PTV-4 newscast that aired the interview, was inadmissible.

The appellate court said the prosecution also failed to prove the existence of malice, a necessary element of libel.

The CA said Angeles being a public official should have not been too sensitive to file a libel case against Velasco.