Court orders arrest of reporter, editors over libel case

CMFR/Philippines – A provincial correspondent and her editors were served last 20 February 2013 a warrant of arrest for a criminal libel case filed by a gold trader in Camarines Norte. The newspaper company has paid a bail bond of P10,000 (approximately 246 USD) each.

Judge Arniel Dating of Branch 41 of the Daet Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of reporter Michelle Zoleta, editor Mario Basco and chief editor Al Pedroche of the Pilipino Star Ngayon (Today) and a certain Michael “Micabel” Dolera in connection with a libel case filed by a certain Ronnie Habitan, an alleged gold trader in Camarines Norte.

Zoleta told CMFR that the National Press Club forwarded the copy of the arrest warrant dated 28 January 2013 to the Philippine Star office in Manila last 20 February 2013. Zoleta said the National Press Club received the warrant from the Manila Police District.

The libel case stemmed from a 30 August 2012 Pilipino Star Ngayon report on the killing of another Camarines Norte-based gold trader, Arnel Elnar. The report quoted a statement  by Micabel Dolera that a certain “Rony Habitan” had attacked Elnar before the August 2012 killing. (www.philstar.com/probinsiya/2012/08/31/843756/trader-pinabulagta-sa-labas-ng-motel)

The report read: “Samantala, sa salaysay sa pulisya ng kaibigan ni Elnar na si Micabel Dolera, dati na umanong may nakaalitan ang biktima kung saan pinasabugan pa ng granada at pinaputukan ang bahay ni Elnar ng isang nagngangalang Rony Habitan (Elnar’s friend, Micabel Dolera, told police in a statement that Elnar had a previous altercation with a person named Rony Habitan. Habitan allegedly threw a grenade and fired a shot at Elnar’s house).”

Habitan in his complaint-affidavit said that Pilipino Star Ngayon “irresponsibly used and quoted (Dolera’s statement)… It was damaging as well. It imparts false information to the reading public that I previously committed a crime against Arnel Elnar, and that I am also probably involved with his recent killing. It was judgmental and it made me defenseless to the possible opinion of the public especially those who may have known me.”

He added that, “That news of Pilipino Star Ngayon resulted to (sic) my tremendous embarrassment and humiliation. It made me a criminal before the eyes of the public without the benefit of trial.”

However, Zoleta and her editors said that the attack on Elnar (who was at that time with a companion named Charmaine Vigo) “concerns matters of public and/or general interest as they affect peace and order.”

Zoleta in a phone interview last 20 February 2013 said she was surprised to hear that the libel case had been filed in court. She said that after filing their joint counter-affidavit, she had not heard any news about the preliminary hearing on the case.

Habitan has been linked to the alleged ambush in Atimoan, Quezon last January 2013.  According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the victims met with Habitan prior to the ambush. One of the accused, Supt. Hansel Marantan, said Habitan informed him about Vic Siman’s group. (“BIR zeroes in on gold miner: Does he pay taxes?”, 18 January 2013)