VII-Daffodil's report about Libel as a crime

1. MEMBERS:
Suzzane Jean Estillo Andrea Georgia Villegas
Daniela Desales Hannah Mae Abing

2. Libel is a published false statement which causes to damage one person’s
reputation. Libel can be on published articles, newspapers, televisions, photographs
and other form of journalism media.
Libel is not an appropriate doing. Plenty of journalists has been a part of
this crime. Mostly of the journalists doing this crime is for cash. Even though they
know it’s a crime, but because of money exchange to this, they still do libel even if
it’s wrong and a violation in Journalism’s code of ethics.

3. FACTS
 International Libel and Privacy Handbook: A Global Reference for
Journalists, Publishers, Webmasters, and Lawyers by: CHARLES J. GLASSER,
Jr.
LATEST NEWS
“Johannesburg - An international rights group has condemned the libel trial
of a journalist and an academic in Mozambique.Amnesty International said in a
statement on Tuesday that economist Carlos Nuno Castel-Branco is on trial for
criticizing a former president in a 2013 Facebook post. Newspaper editor Fernando
Mbanze is being prosecuted for abusing press freedom by republishing the
commentary.” –ABC NEWS
OWN VIEW
The news said that Amnesty International said Castel-Branco wrote an open
letter questioning how then President Armando Guebuza ran the southern African
country. One of the possible reason of the journalist doing false opinion is he’s opposite
or having negative view about the government.
BY: Andrea Georgia Villegas

4. FACTS
The crime of libel prescribes in one year from the date the alleged libelous
article was published. (Art. 90, RPC as amended by Republic Act No. 4661; People vs.
Gines, 197 SCRA 481) Article 2219 (7) of the Civil Code provides that moral damages
may be recovered in cases of libel, slander or any other form of defamation. In effect, the
offended party in these cases is given the right to receive from the guilty party moral
damages for injury to his feelings and reputation in addition to punitive or exemplary
damages. (Occena vs. Icamina, 181 SCRA 328; M.H. Wylie vs. Rarang, 209 SCRA 357)
LATEST NEWS
“The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) strongly
condemned the arrest by the Manila Police District of former National Press Club
president Jerry Yap on Sunday as soon as he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport from Japan. Yap was arrested on a warrant issued by Manila RTC Branch 39
Judge Noli Diaz over a libel case filed against him by former MPD intelligence chief
Senior Inspector Rizalino Ibay.
Jerry Yap publishes the tabloid Hataw, for which he also writes a column.” –GMA News
OWN VIEW
Based on the article, in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, Yap
accused MPD-District Police Intelligence Operation Unit (DPIOU) chief S/Insp. Rizalino
Ibay of orchestrating his arrest in order to harrass him, journalist can also use libel to
protect themselves.
BY: Daniela Desales

5. FACTS
The Ateneo de Davao provided the space for the discussion of
Libel and its pernicious effect last September 24,2013.
BASED ON OUR INTERVIEW:
INTERVIEWEE: GRACE DELA RAMA (HON. LOUIE JOHN
BONGUYAN’S SECRETARY)
Our group got the chance to have an interview with Mrs. Grace
Dela Rama, the secretary of HON. Louie John Bonguyan. After being
asked about her opinion of the crime Libel, it seems that she’s really
disappointed about the cases of libel where Journalists got involved.

6. In many cases of Libel, journalist are involved.
But it is not just in one reason why they’re doing the
crime. Not just for money or cash exchange. Not just to
criticize other people usually the government where
they are in. But also for their protection.
As we all know, journalist speak for the truth
when it comes to news even if they die because of the
truth they’re telling. But journalists are also human,
they also have their own rights as a person in the
society. In this case, journalists should be careful on
what we say, publish or capture. Journalist like us
must report anything or anyone that threat them in
their jobs as a journalist.

7. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/libel_and_slander.aspx
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Mozambique-journalists-academic-face-libel-
charges-20150827
(INTERNATIONAL FACTS AND NEWS)
www.cebucitizenspresscouncil.org/basic-philippine-law-on-libel/
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/465254/news/metro/former-national-press-club-
president-decries-malicious-arrest-for-libel
(NATIONAL FACTS AND NEWS)
https://duriancitygal.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/davao-vs-libel-forum/
An interview with Mrs. GRACE DELA RAMA
(LOCAL FACTS)
