Cebu Citizens-Press Council

LAWYERS of the Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) on Nov. 24, 2006 expressed their support for the plan of 42 of 43 media persons charged with libel by First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo to file a class damage suit against him for P5 million.

Cemla lawyers agreed with the reasons for the return lawsuit: abuse of Arroyo’s power to sue and intimidation of media.

As first gentleman, he is surrogate to President Arroyo and is directly or indirectly benefited by the vast powers of the presidency, Cemla lawyers said.

Nine lawyers have signed a public commitment as volunteers to Cemla, which will provide pro bono assistance to journalists with inadequate or no counsel in answering complaints for libel and other violations of law.