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Manila Bulletin devider devider DOJ accepts additional evidence in Rappler cyberlibel case

DOJ accepts additional evidence in Rappler cyberlibel case

Published Sep 22, 2018 01:17 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog The Department of Justice (DOJ) has decided to accept the additional evidence submitted by businessman Wilfredo Keng in his cyber libel complaint against popular news website Rappler. FILE PHOTO: Journalists work at the office of Rappler in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Dondi Tawatao/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Journalists work at the office of Rappler in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Dondi Tawatao/File Photo “We have issued a resolution accepting his additional evidence,” said Senior State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog, who chairs the panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaint. Dayog revealed that the respondents were asked to file their comments on September 25 over the additional evidence presented by Keng. The case stemmed from an article published by Rappler on its website on May 29, 2012 and written by then Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos. Titled “CJ using SUVs of ‘controversial’ businessman”, the article was about the sports utility vehicle of Keng being used by the then late Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona. The story was published when Renato Corona was still undergoing an impeachment trial. Under the complaint, Keng accused the respondents of committing libel under Section 4, paragraph (c), sub-paragraph (4) of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Apart from Santos, those who have been named as respondents include Rappler editor-in-chief Maria Ressa and Rappler directors Manuel Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda Gloria, James Bitanga, Felicia Atienza, and Dan Alber De Padua. The article reported that Corona has been found using in both official and unofficial functions a black Chevrolet Suburban, an SUV that Keng supposedly owned. Keng has been cited by Forbes Magazine as one of the richest Filipinos in 2010. Apart from this, the story also cited an intelligence report that said Keng had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in illegal activities which include human trafficking and drug smuggling. It added that the document also showed Keng was involved in a murder case for which he was never jailed as the article suspects that this could be connected to the death of Manila Councilor Chika Go in 2002 where Keng had been identified as a mastermind.
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