MANILA, Philippines — Dumistansya si Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa mga akusasyon ng grupong Laban ng Masa na ang ikalawang pangulo talaga ang pasimuno sa kasong kinakaharap ng aktibista at dating VP candidate na si Walden Bello.
Lunes kasi nang arestuhin ng Quezon City police si Bello para sa kasong cyber libel na inihain ni Jefrey Tupas, na isang empleyado ng Office of the Vice President.
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Una nang sinabi ng Laban ng Masa na state-sponsored "proxy harassment" talaga ang cyber libel suit galing kay Duterte sa mga kritiko gaya ni Walden. Anila, dummy lang talaga si Tupas.
"I have never filed a libel case in my life," wika ni Inday Sara sa isang pahayag, Martes.
"Instead of deflecting blame, playing the victim of an imaginary case of political persecution, and dragging me into his legal woes, I suggest that Mr. Bello be reminded of the fact that a civilized and democratic society does not respect hubris."
"The right to freedom of speech and expression does not protect anyone from defiling the name and reputation of other."
READ | Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement on Walden Bello’s accusations after he was arrested over a cyber-libel complaint filed by a former Davao City information official. @News5PH @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/Lk98lYU68d
— Marianne Enriquez (@mariannenriquez) August 9, 2022
Nagmula ang reklamo ni Tupas sa paratang ni Bello na gumagamit at tulak ng droga ang una. Matatandaang sinisante si Tupas ni noo'y Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte matapos um-attend ng isang party kung saan P1.5 milyong halaga ng droga ang nakumpiska.
Nangyari ito habang naglulunsad si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ng "madugong war on drugs." Si Digong ay tatay ni Sara Duterte.
"That he calls the charge against him 'silly' speaks volumes of Mr. Bello's character — it was clearly derision of and an insult to the Prosecutors and the time and effort they put in to uphold the rule of law," dagdag pa ni VP Duterte.
"I am asking him to stop obsessing over me — and stop blaming me for his fall from grace."
Si Bello ay kilalang intelektwal, guro at human rights activist. Nagsilbi rin siyang kinatawan ng Akbayan party-list noon sa Kamara.
'Iniiwasan ni Sara ang isyu'
Agad namang tumugon si Walden sa pahayag ng bise presidente, na ngayo'y kalihim din ng Department of Education (DepEd). Aniya, kahit na anong sabihin ay may kamay daw si Inday Sara sa paglabag sa kanyang freedom of speech.
"The cyberlibel charge against me was a vindictive response to questions I raised about Vice President Duterte's performance as mayor of Davao that she was expected to answer as a candidate for higher office," ani Bello kanina.
"Instead of engaging in democratic exchange, her camp weaponized the law by filing a cyberlibel case against me, declared me persona non grata in Davao, and branded me a narcopolitician."
Matatandaang inilabas ni Bello ang pahayag tungkol kay Tupas noong paulit-ulit na hindi dumadalo si Duterte sa VP debates para humarap sa mga isyu. Magkalaban sila sa parehong posisyon nitong Mayo 2022.
Dagdag pa ni Bello, hindi ito gawain ng mga democratic personalities ngunit ng mga taong maliit ang respeto sa freedom of speech. Hindi rin daw maitatago sa "mabubulaklak" na retorika ang atake sa mga demokratikong karapatan.
"She should act in a manner that befits a vice president and cease disgracing herself and her office by her futile defense of an indefensible act," dagdag pa niya.
Matagal nang inilalaban ng mga journalists at press freedom advocates ang decriminalization ng libel at maging civil case na lamang upang hindi magamit sa pangha-harass ng mga taong nagpapahayag.
Inaasahang maghahain ng kanyang piyansa ngayong araw si Bello para sa kanyang pansamantalang kalayaan. — may mga ulat mula sa News5