The Cebu Citizens-Press Council, a body composed of local media and civic leaders, has commended the Supreme Court decision that set aside an earlier ruling that found Cebu veteran broadcaster Leo Lastimosa guilty of libel.
In its 18-page decision promulgated on December 5, 2022, but was only uploaded on its website on April 3, the SC’s third division said the identity of Garcia was not established in the broadcaster’s column in The Freeman titled “Si Doling Kawatan” .
Garcia had told the court she felt she was the one alluded to in the column that came out in 2007. But the high court believed otherwise. Former Judge Rafael Yrastorza Sr. of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City in 2013 found Lastimosa guilty of libel. He was ordered to pay a fine of P6,000 and damages of P2 million.The Court of Appeals affirmed Lastimosa’s conviction. It, however, modified the amount of damages from P2 million to P500,000 as moral damages.
For an article to be libelous, the SC said the imputation must be defamatory, malicious, be given publicity, and the victim must be identifiable.
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