Mans Carpio is 'aggrieved party' in cyber libel case vs. Philip Lustre, says spokesman

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Atty. Manases Carpio is the aggrieved party in the case against veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr., the former’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Lawyer Neil Abayo, a spokesman for the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, refuted accusations that the libel case against Lustre was an act to silence the press.

“Kung hindi siya nag post ng malicious and baseless possible libelous statement, hindi mangyayari na makakasuhan ang isang individual,” Abayon said. (If he did not post the malicious and baseless possible libelous statement, an individual will not be faced with a case.)

“Atty. Mans is actually the aggrieved party here considering it is the respondent who committed the possible criminal act,” he added.

Abayon also refuted claims that the warrant was rushed and operated, saying that the complainant had nothing to do with the implementation of a warrant, as it depended on the police.

In a Facebook post on Sunday after he posted bail, Lustre said that warrant was deliberately served on a Saturday so he could stay in jail over the weekend since he could not post bail.

“If they will insinuate wrongdoing, they must show evidence to back up their allegations of bad faith or malice on the part of the law enforcement authorities. Otherwise, that will remain as baseless allegations and could taint the reputation of men in uniform who are simply doing their job,” Abayon said.

Carpio’s spokesperson also said that Lustre should address his admission that there were “backroom moves” when it came to the posting of his bail.

Last Sunday, Lustre announced that he had posted bail by using “backroom moves”.

Lustre’s arrest came only a day after Davao City lawmaker Paolo Duterte lodged libel complaints against GMA Network journalists and executives. The two incidents lead to media groups raising concerns over press freedom.

“It was definitely a special operation against me. The intention was to have me arrested on a Saturday and stay in jail on a weekend because I might not be able to post bail for my release. There was procedure flaw in the process. That was how deep the Davao Group do their thing,” Lustre said. —Jean Mangaluz/NB, GMA News