THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 206015, June 30, 2021
CLAUDIO DAQUER, JR., Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
LEONEN, J.:
In cases of criminal libel where public figures, particularly public officers, are private complainants, actual malice—knowledge that the defamatory statement was false or with reckless disregard as to its falsity—must be proved. It is the burden of the prosecution to prove actual malice, and not the defense's burden to disprove.
This Court resolves a Petition for Review on Certiorari1 under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, assailing the Court of Appeals Decision2 and Resolution3 affirming the Regional Trial Court Decision,4 which found Claudio Daquer, Jr. (Daquer) guilty of two counts of libel under Articles 353 to 355 of the Revised Penal Code,5 sentencing him with a fine of P6,000.00, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, for each count.
Daquer was charged with libel under two November 3, 2003 Informations over two articles he wrote which were published in the newspaper Palawan Mirror. Also charged was Virginia A. Amarillo,6 publisher of the Palawan Mirror.7
The first Information, subject of Criminal Case No. 18814, pertained to an April 4, 2003 article titled "KUTO NA NAIS MAGING KALABAW SA CITY HALL" in the column "Nitpicks." The information stated, in part:
That on or about the 4th day of April 2003, at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, being then the News Editor/Writer and publisher of the publication known as "The Palawan Mirror", edited and published in the City of Puerto Princesa, which has a considerable circulation in said city and in the Province of Palawan, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping one another, did then and there willfully (sic), unlawfully, and feloniously, and with malicious intent of impeaching the honesty, virtue and reputation of Anrie A. Grande, Sports Development Office III-Program Manager of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, and with malicious intent of injuring and exposing said Anrie A. Grande to public hatred, contempt and ridicule, write and publish in the regular issue of its weekly publication of the Palawan Mirror dated April 4-10, 2003, Volume XXI Number 12, a certain article entitled "KUTO NA NAIS MAGING KALABAW SA CITY HALL", quoted verbatim hereinunder, to wit:Nitpicks
By Claudio Daquer. Jr.
Tila yata hindi maiwasan ng kuto na magkaroon ng sungay habang lumalaki ang kanyang ulo sa loob ng isang opisina sa tabi ng swimming pool diyan sa tabi ng Sports Complex.
Maging si ex-vice mayor Vicky de Guzman ay pilit na sinusuwag ni Andrie Granda at siya ay pilit na naghahagilap ng butas para kanyang masingitan si De Guzman. Itinalaga si De Guzman ni city mayor Edward Hagedorn sa City Sports bilang consultant matapos na mabulabog ang opisina ng magpumilit si Grande na makuha ang posisyon bilang city sports development director na unang inilaan ni Hagedorn para kay Councilor Al Go.
Nagsilbi bilang taga-pamayapa si De Guzman para di mahalata ang power struggle sa pagitan ni Grande at Go.
Mahigit isang buwan na rin tahimik ang Sports office. Ngunit pagkatapos nito ay may nag alburoto na naman, si Grande.
Siya ay naging matagumpay sa pag-bully kay Go at ngayon si De Guzman na naman ang kanyang target.
Parang di makuntento sa kanyang pwesto at gusting (sic) maghari sa Sports office. At di lang yan, tila nais pang saklawan ang Palawan Press Club at nais kontrolin ang mga reporter. Kung umasta, akala mo gago.
Sa dalawang nakalipas na sports event ng lungsod, ang Batang Pinoy at ang MIMAROPA Cup, ang pagiging overall coordinator na itinalaga ni Hagedorn ay si De Guzman.
Dito iginigiit ni Grande na dapat sya ang nasa katayuan ni De Guzman.
Tila takam sa mga nagiging responsibilidad ni De Guzman o baka may motibo na marahil ay alam ni Hagedorn na makasisira sa kanyang administrasyon kaya hindi binigyan ng laya sa sports si Grande.
Siyempre, mahirap na tawaran ang tiwala ni Hagedorn kay ex-vice mayor De Guzman. Subok na niya ito, maraming beses na sa maraming pagkakataon.
Para bang umiikot ang pwet ni Grande twing tatanggap ng pagsaludo si De Guzman dahil sa nagiging success ng dalawang sports event.
Hindi naman siguro kulang sa pansin. At marahil ay sadyang nanininwala siya na kaya niyang gampanan ang mga ginagawa ni De Guzman.
O baka naman inggit ang umiiral at utak tukmol na pilit niyang hinihila yung mga nagbibigay ng "feathers" sa administrasyon ni Hagedorn.
Baka gusto niya siya ang lagging bida. Dapat siguro na humihingi siya ng permiso kay Hagedorn na bigyan siya ng break... Oops! Teka... Di sa city hall. Sa pelikula... mahilig naman siya ng EKSENA. (Hindi ko sana papatulan, kaso lumalaki ang kuto.)
Wherein the said Anrie A. Grande is depicted and portrayed as stupid and a louse aspiring to be a carabao and other vices or defects, when in truth and in fact the said Anrie A. Grande he is not, thereby bringing him to dishonor, discredit and public hatred, contempt and ridicule and for which he should be entitled to be compensated for actual damages, moral damages, exemplary damages, attorneys fees and litigation expenses with the total amount of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND (P2,500,000.00) PESOS, Philippine Currency.
CONTRARY TO LAW.8
That on or about 11th day of April 2003, at Puerto Princcsa City, Palawan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, being then the News Editor/Writer and publisher of the publications known as "The Palawan Mirror," edited and published in the City of Puerto Princesa, which has a considerable circulation in said city and in the Province of Palawan, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping one another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, and with malicious intent of impeaching the honesty, virtue and reputation of Anrie A. Grande, Sports Development Officer III Program Manager of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, and with malicious intent of injuring and exposing said Anrie A. Grande to public hatred, contempt and ridicule, write and publish in the regular issue of its weekly publication of the Palawan Mirror dated April 11-17, 2003. Volume XXI Number 13, a certain article entitled "UNSOLICITED ADVICE SA MEDIA PRACS" quoted verbatim hereunder, to wit:NITPICKS
By Claudio Daquer, Jr.
Unsolicited advice para sa "media pracs"
DAHIL sa nobelity ng trabaho at responsibilidad ng isang mamamahayag ay marami ang nais na makipag-kaibigan sa kanya.
Hindi maiiwasan na kabilang sa mga ito ay yaong may maruming intension. Pansariling interest ang nasa ibabaw. Ooops! Lahat na marahil.
Ngunit, hindi masama na maging malapit sa karamihan lalo nasa news sources. Isang karangalan para sa media practitioner ang may magandang rapport sa halos karamihan.
Lalo na kapag parati itong nagagamit bilang advantage para sa "fair and responsible" na pamamahayag.
Napakahirap bigyan ng limitasyon ang pakikipagkaibigan. Kinakailangan ng malawak na kaisipan sa pagitan ng media practitioner at ng isang partido upang manatili ang magandang relasyon.
May mga taong lubos ang kagalakan kapag naging bukas ang kanyang linya tungo sa isang reporter. Ngunit, marami ang umaabuso! Marami ang mapagsamantala at kung umasta'y sila ang sinusunod ng mamahayag.
Tulad ni Andrei Grande na nais maghari sa City Sports. Noon ay nakisuyo na bigyan ng pansin ang mga isyu na kanyang tangan-tangan. Matapos ang "verification" at nakitang valid ang reporting and public consumption ay pinagbigyan ng ilan sa miyembro ng Palawan Press Club.
Sobra naman ata ang bilib sa sarili nitong akala mo'y mokong. Sa hangarin niyang makuha ang magandang pwesto sa city hall ay ginamit na sangkalan ang pagiging malapit sa local media practitioners.
Ilang beses niyang inangalandakan sa city hall na "hawak nya sa leeg ang media ng Palawan!" Na para bang tumatago sa saya ng Palawan Press Club.
Sinubukan nyang mag-radyo para sabihin na siya'y lehitimong media practitioner. Pinagsisiksikan pa ni Grande ang sarili sa Press Club at gusto na maging "regular member". Para bang hindi katanggap-tanggap asa kanya ang pagiging "associate" o di kaya'y "honorary member".
Mantakin mo pati ang nakalipas na press club elections ay gustong pakiaiaman at dikathin ang mga miyembro kung sino ang ilagay na mga opisalyes. Kapal!!!
Iginigiit nya na "may blessing si mayor Hagedorn sa kanyang pakikialam sa internal affairs ng Palawan Press Club.
Para bang sinabi nya na makitid ang pagiisip ni Hagedorn at di nabigyan ng pansin nab aka makasama ang kanyang pakikialam. Magaling ang pag-panggap ni Grande na siya'y sugo ni Hagedorn. at akala niya'y di marunong mag-isip ang mga miyembro ng local press.
Marami sa miyembro ng Palawan Press Club and nag-verify at nabisto na walang alam si Hagedorn sa mga ginawa ni Grande.
Walang inidorsong kandidato sa pagka-presidente ng Press Club noon si Hagedorn at hallucinations lamang ni Grande ang sinasabi niyang "blessing" mula kay mayor.
Buti na lamang ay may sariling paninindigan ang media practitioners. Yun nga lang, baka iba ang lumusot na president. Dahil, inarami na ang tumanggi sa kandidato na iginapang ni Grande.
Noong una ay suportado nila itong kandidato ngunit dahil sa mga pakiki-alam ni Grande ay naghanap na lang sila ng iba.
Malakas ang dating ni Grande, lalo na ang kanyang pretensions.
Ngunit di na uubra Ngayon. Kilala na siya nilang "great pretender".
Ingat lang mga tol, dahil kalat na isa siya sa mga ahas na gumagala sa City Hall Ngayon.
Masyadong polluted at baka ka magamit sa mga nais niyang tuklawin sa city hall.
Muntil (sic) na nga raw nagkasuntukan sa isang miting, di lang daw natuloy dahil ang sabi sa kalaban "ikaw rin hawak ko ang media at kaya kitang pabanatan".
wherein the said Anrie A. Grande is depicted and portrayed as stupid and a louse aspiring to be a carabao and other vices or defects, when in truth and in fact the said Anrie A. Grande he (sic) is not, thereby bringing him to dishonor, discredit and public hatred, contempt and ridicule and for which he should be entitled to be compensated for actual damages, moral damages, exemplary damages, attorneys fees and litigation expenses with the total amount of TWO MILLION FIVE ' HUNDRED THOUSAND (P2,500,000.00) PESOS. Philippine Currency.
CONTRARY TO LAW.9
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the prosecution having successfully proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, accused CLAUDIO DAQUER, JR. is hereby found GUILTY of two (2) counts of Libel under Articles 353 to 355 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). Pursuant to Supreme Court Administrative Circular No. 08-2008, and finding that the accused believes that he acted pursuant to a duty against the acts of the complainant who was then a public officer, in lieu of imprisonment, the penalty imposed upon the said accused is a fine of SIX THOUSAND (P6,000.00) PESOS with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, for each of the two (2) above captioned cases, thus the total amount of fine is TWELVE THOUSAND (P12,000.00) PESOS. No actual or compensatory damages is awarded for lack of factual basis because to be entitled to actual and compensatory damages, there must be competent proof constituting evidence of the actual amount thereof. The private nominal complainant had not presented evidence in support thereof.
Anent the accused Virginia A. Amarillo, let this case be sent to the archives to be revived as soon as this Court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the said accused. Meanwhile, let alias warrant of arrest issued against Virginia A. Amarillo to be served by the Chief of Police of this City and send copy to the Chief of Police of Iloilo City where the accused is said to be residing.
SO ORDERED.13
WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED. The Decision dated 14 May 2008 of the Regional Trial Court of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City, Branch 47 in Criminal Case No. 18814-15 is hereby AFFIRMED.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
SO ORDERED.14 (Emphasis in the original)
. . . knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, and with malicious intent of impeaching the honesty, virtue and reputation of Anrie A. Grande. Sports Development Officer III-Program Manager of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, and with malicious intent of injuring and exposing said Anrie A. Grande to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule, write and publish in the regular issue of its weekly publication of the Palawan Mirror[.]33 (Citation omitted)
Turning to the pages of history, we state nothing new when we set down the freedom of speech as cherished in democratic countries was unknown in the Philippine Islands before 1900. A prime cause for revolt was consequently ready made. Jose Rizal in "Filipinas Despues de Cien Anos" (The Philippines a Century Hence, pages 62 et seq.) describing "the reforms sine quibus non." which the Filipinos insist upon, said:"The minister, . . . who wants his reforms to be reforms, must begin by declaring the press in the Philippines free and by instituting Filipino delegates."
The Filipino patriots in Spain, through the columns of "La Solidaridad" and by other means invariably in exposing the wants ot the Filipino people demanded." (See Mabini, La Revolucion Filipina.) The Malolos Constitution, the work of the Revolutionary Congress, in its Bill of Rights, zealously guarded freedom of speech and press and assembly and petition.
Mention is made of the foregoing data only to deduce the proposition that a reform so sacred to the people of these Islands and won at so dear as one would protect and preserve the covenant of liberty itself.
Net comes the period of American-Filipino cooperative effort. The Constitution of the United States and the State constitutions guarantee the right of freedom of speech and press and the right of assembly and petition. We are therefore, not surprised to find President McKinley in that Magna Charta of Philippine Liberty, the Instruction to the Second Philippine Commission, of April 7, 1900, laying down the inviolable rule "That no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or oi the rights of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The Philippine Bill, the Act of Congress of July 1, 1902, and the Jones Law, the Act of Congress of August 29, 1916, in the nature of organic acts for the Philippines, continued this guaranty. The words quoted are not unfamiliar to students of Constitutional Law. for they are the counterpart of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which the American people demanded before giving their approval to the Constitution.
We mention the foregoing facts only to deduce the proposition never to be forgotten for an instant that the guaranties mentioned are part and parcel of the Organic Law — of the Constitution — of the Philippines Islands.
These paragraphs found in the Philippine Bill of Rights are not threadbare verbiage. The language carries with it all the applicable jurisprudence of great English and American Constitutional cases[.]44 (Citation omitted)
The development of an informed public opinion in the Philippines can certainly not be brought by the constant prosecution of those citizens who have the courage to denounce the maladministration of public affairs. The time of prosecuting officers could be better served, in bringing to stern account the many who profit by the vices of the country, than by prosecution which amounts to persecution of the few who are helping to make, what the country so much needs, and enlightened public.48
We considered the following proposition as settled in this jurisdiction: that in order to justify a conviction for criminal libel against a public figure, it must be established beyond reasonable doubt that the libelous statements were made or published with actual malice, meaning knowledge that the statement was false or with reckless disregard as to whether or not it was true.54
To be considered to have reckless disregard for the truth, the false statements must have been made with a definite awareness that they are untrue. That the accused was negligent of the facts is not enough. The accused must have doubted the veracity of the statements that he or she was making. Thus, errors and inaccuracies may be excused so long as they were made with the belief that what was being stated is true.58 (Citations omitted)
Records show that private complainant, Anrie Grande, is a public officer being the Sports Development Officer III-Program Manager of the City Government of Puerto Princesa and the topic of the subject articles is the alleged power struggle that occurred within the City Sports Office involving Grande and certain local officials therein and Grande's alleged meddling with the affairs of the Palawan Press Club. Hence, We can conclude that the subject articles fall within the scope of fair commentaries on matters of public interest and. as such, is covered under "qualified privileged communication."60
Endnotes:
* Designated additional member per Special Order No. 2833.
1Rollo, pp. 7-42.
2 Id. at 46-60. The October 11, 2012 Decision in CA-G.R. CR No. 33446 was penned by Associate Justice Jane Aurora C. Lantion and concurred in by Associate Justices Vicente S. E. Veloso and Eduardo B. Peralta. Jr. of the Twelfth Division, Court of Appeals, Manila.
3 Id. at 122-123. The February 22, 2013 Resolution in CA-G.R. CR No. 33446 was penned by Associate Justice Jane Aurora C. Lantion and concurred in by Associate Justices Vicente S. E. Veloso Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr. of the Twelfth Division, Court of Appeals, Manila.
4 Not attached to the rollo. The Decision was issued by the Regional Trial Court of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City, Branch 47 in Criminal Case No. 18814-15.
5 REV. PEN. CODE, arts. 353-355 state:
ARTICLE 353. Definition of Libel. — A libel is a 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.
ARTICLE 354 Requirement for Publicity. — Every defamatory imputation is presumed to be malicious, even if it be true, if no good intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown, except in the following cases:
1. A private communication made by any person to another in the performance of any legal, moral or social duty; and
2. A fair and true report, made in good faith, without any comments or remarks, of any judicial, legislative or other official proceedings which are not of confidential nature, or of any statement, report or speech delivered in said proceedings, or of any other act performed by public officers in the exercise of then functions.
ARTICLE 355 Libel by Means Writings or Similar Means. — A libel committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, shall be punished by prisión correctional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party.
6 While an arrest warrant was issued against Amarillo, she remained at large. Eventually, the case against her was archived pending her arrest.
7Rollo, p 47.
8 Id. at 47-49.
9 Id. at 49-51.
10 Id. at 51.
11 Id. at 52.
12 Id. at 51.
13 Id. at 46—47.
14 Id. at 60.
15 Id. at 54.
16 Id. at 54-55.
17 Id. at 58.
18 Id.
19 Id.
20 Id. at 122-123.
21 Id. at 7-42.
22 Id. at 20.
23 Id. at 22.
24 Id. at 25.
25 361 Phil. 1 (1999) [Per J. Bellosillo, Second Division].
26Rollo, p. 29.
27 37 Phil. 731 (1918) [Per J. Malcolm, First Division].
28Rollo, p. 31-33.
29 Id. at 35-36.
30 Id. at 33.
31 Id. at 137-157.
32 Id. at 163-167.
33 Id. at 147-148.
34 Id. at 148.
35 Id. at 148-149.
36 Id. at 149-151.
37 587 Phil. 64 (2008) [Per J. Velasco, Jr., Second Division].
38 Id. at 151-156.
39 Id. at 164-165.
40 Id. at 166-167.
41 Id. at 187-213.
42 Id. at 215-252.
43 37 Phil. 731 (1918) [Per J. Malcolm, First Division].
44 Id. at 739-740.
45 CONST., art. II. sec. 1 states:
SECTION 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
46 CONST., art. XI. sec. 1 states:
SECTION 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
47 43 Phil. 225 (1922) [Per J. Malcolm, First Division].
48 Id. at 232.
49United States v. Bustos, 37 Phil. 731, 741 (1918) [Per J. Malcolm, First Division].
50 Id.
51Soriano v. People, G.R. No. 225010, November 21, 2018. [Per J. Tijam, First Division]; Flor v. People, 494 Phil. 439 (2005) [Per J. Chico-Nazario, Second Division].
52People v. Pascual, 102 Phil. 503-515 (1957) [Per J. Concepcion, First Division]; People v. Monton, 116 Phil. 1116-1122 (1962) [Per J. Makalintal, En Banc]; Co v. Muñoz, 722 Phil. 729-743 (2013) [Per J. Brion, Second Division].
53 508 Phil. 192 (2005) [Per J. Tinga, Second Division].
54 Id. at 216.
55Flor v. People, 494 Phil. 439 (2005) [Per J. Chico-Nazario, Second Division].
56 Id.; Borjal v. Court of Appeals, 361 Phil. 1-29 (1999) [Per J. Bellosillo, Second Division].
57Villanueva v. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc., 605 Phil. 926 (2009) [Per J. Quisumbing, Second Division].
58 J. Leonen, Dissenting Opinion in Belen v. People, 805 Phil. 628, 669 (2017) [Per J. Peralta, Second Division].
59Vasquez v. Court of Appeals, 373 Phil. 238 (1999) [Per J. Mendoza, En Banc].
60Rollo, p. 57.
61 Id. at 58.cralawredlibrary