Cebu Citizens-Press Council

JOINT STATEMENT ON LEO LASTIMOSA’S CONVICTION OF LIBEL
Aug. 30, 2013

We are saddened by the decision of the Cebu Regional Trial Court convicting broadcaster-newspaper columnist Leo Lastimosa of libel.

It may be noted that no jail term has been imposed by the judge. CCPC and Cemla have advocated not for decriminalizing libel but only for removing the jail term with no subsidiary jail term in case of insolvency.

The decision is not yet final. The setback is still temporary. Leo can appeal to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, where in many cases in the past the right to free comment was upheld.

Leo’s right to due process is not over. Let it be pursued freely, without the interference of political or economic power, in the higher courts.

And let the decision not dissuade journalists from continuing to do their job courageously and responsibly.

PACHICO A. SEARES, executive director, Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC)
ELIAS L. ESPINOZA, president, Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla)