Libel complaint against editor, media researcher dismissed (UPDATED)

CMFR/Philippines—A prosecutor dismissed a libel complaint filed by a physician against the online news editor and the head of research of a Manila-based media network   for insufficiency of evidence. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines.

In a 13 November 2012 resolution, Deputy City Prosecutor Gabriel Alberto of the Calapan City Prosecution Office dismissed a libel complaint filed by a doctor, Idol Bondoc of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital against GMA News Online editor-in-chief Howie Severino and GMA News Research head Florian Balmes. The prosecutor, however, found probable cause to file libel charges in court against another doctor, Rosinico Fabon.

The September 2011 libel complaint stemmed from alleged defamatory comments posted by Fabon against Idol Bondoc in a GMA News Online report about an administrative case involving the latter.

Alberto in his resolution,as quoted in a GMA Network press release, said that “…neither Severino nor Balmes had the power to edit or approve comments on the website, and considering further that sufficient guidelines on proper posting of comments were available on the website, it was determined that they should not be held liable for any reactions sent by its readers.” (http://www.gmanetwork.com/international/pinoytv/articles/2013-01-07/153/Calapan-City-Prosecutor-dismisses-libel-charges-against-Howie-Severino-and-GMA-News-Research-head)

BusinessMirror said that Bondoc had claimed that “GMA News Online served as a vehicle for Fabon to destroy his reputation as a medical professional, and that he was not given equal opportunity to air his side of the story.”  (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/7273-prosecutor-drops-libel-complaint-vs-tv-network)