THE Supreme Court has junked a petition filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, which sought to dismiss the damage suit filed against him by a group of journalists.
In a minute resolution, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeals did not commit a reversible error in sustaining the ruling of Judge Zenaida Galapate Laguilles of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 143.
Judge Galapate-Laguilles had previously denied the presidential spouse’s motion to dismiss the P12.5-million class suit. The First Gentleman cited the failure of the journalists to immediately answer the written interrogatory within the prescribed extended period.
“The Court resolves to deny the petition for failure of petitioner to sufficiently show that the Court of Appeals committed any reversible error in the challenged decision and resolution,” the SC stated in a resolution dated March 10, 2010 but released only recently.
The class suit against Arroyo was filed in December 2006 by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, The Daily Tribune, Niñez Cacho Olivarez, Marites Vitug, Glenda Gloria, Ricky Carandang, Romulo Mariñas, Gina Capili Inciong, Gerry Baldo, Sherwin Olaes, Lito Banayo, Rustico Otico, Ma. Concepcion Cruz, Miriam Grace Go, Romina Gonzalez, Gemma Bagayaua, JP Lopez, Regina Bengco, Minnie Advincula, Ellen Tordesillas, William Esposo, Jose Pavia, Rowena Paraan, Sweet May Cawicaan, Jofelle Tesorio, Jose Bimbo Santos, Rachel Khan, Ma. Cristina Rodriguez, Yvonne Chua, Alcuin Papa, Ramon Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Conrado de Quiros, Nixon Cua and Vergel Santos de Dios of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Inc.
It stemmed from Mike Arroyo’s filing of about 15 libel suits against at least 40 journalists.
The group demanded “the symbolic amount” of P12.5 million in damages for “anxiety, loss of income and other inconveniences” caused by the libel suits that were variously filed against them by the First Gentleman.
In their complaint, the journalists claimed that the First Gentleman has abused his rights and violated the freedom of the press when he filed the numerous libel cases against them.