No 80 counts of libel for anti-Arroyo bishop, Manila court rules

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Regional Trial Court has junked anew the appeal seeking to amend the information in the libel case filed against Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz from one to 80 counts. Judge Antonio Rosales of the Manila RTC Branch 52 made the ruling in response to the motion for reconsideration filed by private prosecutor Manuel Camacho seeking separate and distinct information for each offended party, in this case several employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). The prosecution said Cruz allegedly committed 80 separate counts of libel, and thus must face the bar of justice in all these cases. But Rosales said agreeing with the prosecution's request would put Cruz in jeopardy of being convicted 80 times. “Clearly under this situation, contemplated by the movants, the accused would be placed in jeopardy of being convicted 80 times for the same offense to which he has already entered a plea, not to mention the fact that he has to post bail 79 other cases to his prejudice,” Rosales said. Cruz, a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration, on May 14, 2008 posted a P10,000 bail after Rosales issued on May 12 the same year the warrant of arrest against him. The case stemmed from a news article written by Cruz and published in several newspapers four years ago accusing several female Pagcor employees of acting as “guest relations officers” during a birthday bash of First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. The prosecution filed the motion after the Manila RTC last November junked the motion to amend the information from one count to 80 counts of libel against the bishop. Rosales also said the court cannot find any cogent reason to disturb its earlier ruling. “Based on the relief prayed for, the movants could not even be certain or make up their minds whether they are seeking a mere amendment of the existing information or its withdrawal and substitution and/ or replacement with 80 separate information,” Rosales said. - GMANews.TV