An editor of a weekly newspaper in Bohol says he won’t stop commenting on what is happening in his hometown even if he is locked behind iron bars.
Fred Amora, associate editor of the STANDARD said he welcomes the suit filed against him by Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Añana –Piezas.
He, however, said it shocked him knowing that Piezas lived in the United States and was a citizen in that country before she came back and became mayor of Guindulman.
“I was expecting a more liberated mayor who would be the first to uphold press freedom considering how the First Amendment of the US constitution protects their citizens’ right to speak,†Amora said.
“Having no malice in what I wrote but driven only by my civic and moral duty, I will continue writing (even behind bars) about what is happening in my hometown,†he added.
Amora is a scion of political clans in Guindulman, ran as municipal mayor under the Liberal Party in 2001 and is a resident and registered voter there.
Investigating prosecutor Tito Apura has filed an Information for Libel at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 50 in Loay. The complainant-mayor is assisted by the prominent Tinampay Legal Clinic while respondent will act as his own counsel.
Amora said, not dazzled by the expensive law firm hired by the mayor-complainant, he intends to appear in court, as a “fool’s client†defending himself.
Amora was cited for Libel due to his commentaries in his regular Sunday column The Gospel. The complainant-mayor is also claiming for cost of lawyer’s services amounting to P25,000, plus 25% of whatever is awarded to her favor, litigation expenses of not less than P50,000, and cost of suit, the amount which will be determine during the course of hearing, and other forms of damages.
The write-ups of Amora allegedly pictured her (Piezas) as “gullible†and a “moron†with the object of destroying her reputation and discrediting the mayor before her peers.
Amora said he had no a malice in writing about the mayor’s official acts. In his answer, he cited a Supreme Court time-held ruling that says:
“A public officer must not be too onion-skinned with reference to comment upon his official acts. Only thus can the intelligence and dignity of the individual be exalted. Of course, criticism does not authorize defamation. Nevertheless, as the individual is less than the State, so must expected criticism be born for the common good? Rising superior to any official, or set of officials, to the Chief Executive, to the Legislature, to the Judiciary - to any or all the agencies of Government - public opinion should be the constant source of liberty and democracy.â€
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=39693.0