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Warrant of arrest against Guru Press editors on cyber libel possible

Writer's picture: Leonora Lo-oyLeonora Lo-oy

Updated: Aug 6, 2021


Tabuk City, Kalinga – Atty. Errol Comafay, legal counsel of Guru Press editors, Brent Martinez and Ghumie Pinkihan, said in an interview that should the resolution of the City Prosecutor’s office be accepted and filed in court, a warrant of arrest might be issued on Friday, August 6, 2021.


Comafay’s comment came after he was asked what happens next following the receipt of the resolution from the City Prosecutor’s Office recommending a full-blown trial for the probable cause of cyber libel on two articles published by Guru Press Cordillera.


The two articles stated as libelous were ‘TABUK CITY: RESIDENTS FILE CHARGE AGAINST MAYOR ESTRANERO FOR OVERPRICED MEDICAL SUPPLIES’ which was published on July 2, 2020 and ‘CLAIM THAT NO AVAILABLE THERMAL SCANNERS IN TABUK CITY IN MARCH 2020, NOT TRUE – DRUG STORE OWNERS ASSOCIATION’ published on August 2, 2020.


According to the resolution, the caption and first paragraph of the article on July 2 has concluded that the thermal scanners are overpriced and that it is trying to convey to the readers that there was graft and corruption committed.


The resolution added that while the article was based on a complaint, the succeeding paragraphs portrayed that the complainant is guilty of graft and corruption and Grave Misconduct.

“…respondent failed to use the word “alleged” or terms with similar import connoting that subject statements they made are based on the allegations of their source,” the resolution stated.


As for the August 2 article, ‘it is portrayed that there was irregularity in the purchase of thermal scanners.’


Moreover, it was found to be defamatory and malicious as the respondents published it without due efforts to verify the claim of the drugstores in Tabuk that there was an available thermal scanner to supply the City LGU. It was also added that the respondents were motivated by malice for they didn’t seek the side of the City LGU on the matter.

For this reason, the resolution states “two (2) counts of the crime of libel as defined under the Revised Penal Code in relation to R.A. No. 10175 have been committed and that the respondents are probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial.”


On the other hand, according to Guru Press editors, none of the two articles found libelous categorically stated that Guru Press mentioned Mayor Darwin Estraňero is guilty of graft and corruption and Grave Misconduct.


Updated: 9.55AM of 08062021


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