Why I Think CRappler's Libel Case Should Not Be Dismissed As Mere Tort

How stupid can Maria Ressa's followers be into believing that her arrest is supposedly a threat to democracy? The filing of Wilfredo Keng is not mere puny charges like what Jover Laurio wanted to do with Franco Mabanta. So how do we define libel? It's defined by the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library as:

Art. 353. Definition of libel. — A libel is public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.

Now let's consider why Wildfredo Keng is really suing Ressa for libel. A libel is a tort only when it's a petty case such as calling somebody ugly or stupid. But Ressa herself had every chance to take her word back but she didn't. Here's the reasons why Keng is suing for libel according to GMA News:

"This story is not just about an ordinary suit filed by a private and hardworking citizen to clear his name," Keng said. "It is, in reality, a test case on the how the Philippine legal and judicial system will fare against the dangerous precedent that is being set by one reckless and irresponsible member of the media and of the online community."

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Ressa at Rappler headquarters late Wednesday afternoon over an article published by the news website in 2012.

Keng filed a cyber libel complaint against Ressa Santos for running the story—“CJ using SUVs of ‘controversial’ businessmen”— which supposedly linked the businessman to human trafficking as well as drug smuggling.

Keng said Rappler had never attempted to obtain his side regarding the story or to fact-check the "baseless attacks" against him, noting that the news website had destroyed his reputation as well as endangered his life.

"Against this kind of limitless harassment and wanton disregard for the rule of law, I was left with no other choice but to file a case and seek protection from our courts," Keng said.

"To date, the perpetrators have not once denied having published clear defamations against me but simply continue to hide behind a single claim: that unfortunately for me, I allegedly can no longer complain," he added.

Keng said it is already time to remember that the foundation of the country's independence, democracy and freedom was rooted on one simple truth that no one is above the law.

"As I pursue this case to its just conclusion, I pray that the dispensation of justice be lawful and swift in recognition of the global platform of the perpetrators, the length of time the libelous statements against me have remained available for the entire world to see, and other factors which exponentially threaten my life, limb, property, health, well-being and peace of mind," Keng said.

"I further hope to not just seek remedy and redress for myself and my family, but to move all other victims of cyber libel and cyber bullying to stand up and seek just and legal action," he added.

This means Keng should really pursue the case because he got DAMAGED by what CRappler did to him. If said article against him didn't get him damaged then he can just leave him alone but what happened to him is more than just simple libel -- it's already something that may have been intended to destroy him from the start! It's also very stupid how the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and its allies abroad are now calling it an attack on press freedom. Did they even consider what Ressa really did damaged someone's reputation and livelihood? Yes, there should be freedom of speech but what Ressa did is to ruin someone with a one-sided story. While petty libel needs to be decriminalized but should an act of libel accuse someone of doing a crime and said person was damaged -- then that's the time it should be declared criminal. His chasing after Ressa and writer Ressa Santos should be done to collect damages -- especially when said incident of one-sided journalism ruined his livelihood and threatened his life!