6. pji vs thoenen

7/26/2019 6. Pji vs Thoenen

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SECOND DIVISION

PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS,INC. (PEOPLES JOURNAL),

ZACARIAS NUGUID, JR. and

CRISTINA LEE, P e t i t i o n e r

s,

versus

!RANCIS THOENEN,

R e s " o n d e n t.

G.R. No. #$%%&'

Present

PUNO,

Cair*an,

AUSTRIA+ARTINEZ,

CALLEJO, SR.,

TINGA, and

CHICONAZARIO,JJ.

Pro*-ated

De/e*0er #%, '112

3 3

D E C I S I O N

CHICO-NAZARIO,J.:

!or a-*ost a /entr4, tis Cort as sot tat e-si5e e6i-i0ri* 0et7een te

-a7 on de8a*ation on one and, and te /onstittiona--4 aranteed 8reedo*s o8

s"ee/ and "ress on te oter. Tis /ase re5isits tat sear/.

On %1 Se"te*0er #991, te 8o--o7in ne7s ite* a""eared in te Peo"-es Jorna-, a

ta0-oid o8 enera- /ir/-ation

Swiss Shoots Neighbors Pets


2/17

RESIDENTS o8 a s0di5ision in Paraa6e a5e as:ed te ;rea o8

I**iration to de"ort a S7iss 7o a--eed-4 soots 7a47ard nei0ors

"ets tat e 8inds in is do*ain.

Te ;! Ho*es residents tro -a74er Att4. E8ren Anara /o*"-ained

tat te de"ortation o8 !ran/is Toenen, o8 #1 Ca-/tta ;! Ho*es PaseIII, /o-d e-" "re5ent te re/rren/e o8 s/ in/ident in te 8tre.

Anara e3"-ained tat ose o7ners /o-d not /ontro- teir dos and /ats

7en te4 s-i" ot o8 teir d7e--ins nnoti/ed.

An a--eed /on8rontation 0et7een Toenen and te o7ner o8 a "et e sot

re/ent-4 treatens to e3a/er0ate te "ro0-e*, Anara said.

Cristina Leee/t o8 tis arti/-e, !ran/is Toenen, is a retired enineer "er*anent-4

residin in tis /ontr4 7it is !i-i"ina 7i8e and teir /i-dren. C-ai*in tat te

re"ort 7as 8a-se and de8a*ator4, and tat te "etitioners a/ted irres"onsi0-4 in

8ai-in to 5eri84 te trt o8 te sa*e "rior to "0-i/ation, e 8i-ed a /i5i- /ase 8or

da*aes aainst erein "etitioners Pi-i""ine Jorna-ists, In/., Za/arias Nid,

Jr., its "0-iser, and re"orter Cristina Lee.

Toenen /-ai*ed tat te arti/-e destro4ed te res"e/t and ad*iration e en>o4ed

in te /o**nit4, and tat sin/e it ad 0een "0-ised, e and is 7i8e re/ei5ed

se5era- 6eries and anr4 /a--s 8ro* 8riends, nei0ors and re-ati5es. !or te

i*"air*ent o8 is re"tation and standin in te /o**nit4, and is *enta-

anis, Toenen sot P'11,111.11 in *ora- da*aes, P#11,111.11 in

e3e*"-ar4 da*aes, and P21,111.11 in attorne4s 8ees.

Te "etitioners ad*itted "0-i/ation o8 te ne7s ite*, ostensi0-4 ot o8 a so/ia-

and *ora- dt4 to in8or* te "0-i/ on *atters o8 enera- interest, "ro*ote te

"0-i/ ood and "rote/t te *ora- "0-i/ (sic) o8 te "eo"-e, and tat te stor4 7as

"0-ised in ood 8ait and 7itot *a-i/e.


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Te "rin/i"a- sor/e o8 te arti/-e 7as a -etter


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It 7as "ro5en at tria- tat te ne7s arti/-e /ontained se5era- ina//ra/ies. Te

ead-ine, 7i/ /ateori/a--4 stated tat te s0>e/t o8 te arti/-e enaed in te

"ra/ti/e o8 sootin "ets, 7as ntre.


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te "eo"-e on *atters o8 "0-i/ interest. Te ne7s re"ort 7as 0ased on an

o88i/ia- /o**ni/ation 8i-ed 7it te ;rea o8 I**iration and

De"ortation.

As noted 04 te Cort o8 A""ea-s in +arti(r)e 5s. A-anao, CAG.R

No. '&1, Se"te*0er %1, #99#, 7i/ is si*i-ar to te "resent /ase

?i-e indeed, te ne7s ite* s0>e/t o8 te "resent /ase

*it a5e r88-ed te sensiti5ities o8 "-ainti88, tis Cort

o7e5er 0e-ie5es tat te a--eed de8a*ator4 arti/-es 8a--s

7itin te "r5ie7 o8 a 6a-i8ied-4 "ri5i-eed *atter, and tat

tere8ore, it /annot 0e "res*ed to 0e *a-i/ios. Te ons o8

"ro5in *a-i/e is a//ordin-4 si8ted to te "-ainti88, tat is,

tat e *st "ro5e tat te de8endants 7ere a/tated 04 i--

7i-- in 7at te4 /ased to 0e "rinted and "0-ised, 7it a

desin to /are-ess-4 or 7anton-4 in>re te "-ainti88. (US 5s.;stos, et a-., %& Pi-. &%#)

Tis, "-ainti88 8ai-ed to do, /onse6ent-4, is /ase *st 8a--.

Te "0-i/ation in 6estion is a "ri5i-eed /o**ni/ation "rote/ted

04 te 8reedo* o8 te "ress.

?HERE!ORE, te Co*"-aint is ere04 ordered DIS+ISSED

?ITHOUT PRONOUNCE+ENT AS TO COSTS.


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7ron8- o*ission. Neiter did te4 a/t 7it >sti/e and i5e e5er4one is

de, 0e/ase 7itot as/ertainin te 5era/it4 o8 te in8or*ation i5en

te* 04 te Inte--ien/e ;rea o8 te ;rea o8 I**iration, te4

"0-ised a ne7s arti/-e 7i/ te4 7ere a7are 7o-d 0rin te "erson

s"e/i8i/a--4 na*ed terein, 5i, !ran/is Toenen, te "-ainti88a""e--ant in

tis /ase, into disre"te..

?HERE!ORE, te 8oreoin /onsidered, te De/ision a""ea-ed

8ro* is ere04 REBERSED and SET ASIDE. In its stead, ?e 8ind 8or te

a""e--ant and a7ard i* *ora- da*aes o8 P'11,111.11 e3e*"-ar4

da*aes o8 P21,111.11, and -ea- 8ees to P%1,111.11 a-- o8 7i/ sa-- 0e

0orne >oint-4 and se5era--4 04 a""e--ees.


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*atters o8 enera- interest, "ro*ote te "0-i/ ood and "rote/t te *ora-


8/17

Libel is not protected speech.Arti/-e %2% o8 te Re5ised Pena- Code de8ines

-i0e- as a "0-i/ and *a-i/ios i*"tation o8 a /ri*e, or o8 a 5i/e or de8e/t, rea- or

i*ainar4, or an4 a/t, o*ission, /ondition, stats, or /ir/*stan/e tendin to /ase

te disonor, dis/redit, or /onte*"t o8 a natra- or >ridi/a- "erson, or to 0-a/:en

te *e*or4 o8 one 7o is dead.

!or an i*"tation to 0e -i0e-os, te 8o--o7in re6isites *st 0e *et (a)

te a--eation o8 a dis/redita0-e a/t or /ondition /on/ernin anoter (0)

"0-i/ation o8 te /are (/) identit4 o8 te "erson de8a*ed and (d) e3isten/e o8

*a-i/e.di/ia-, -eis-ati5e or
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn21


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oter o88i/ia- "ro/eedins 7i/ are not o8

/on8identia- natre, or o8 an4 state*ent, re"ort or

s"ee/ de-i5ered in said "ro/eedins, or o8 an4 oter

a/t "er8or*ed 04 "0-i/ o88i/ers in te e3er/ise o8

teir 8n/tions. (citations omitted emphasis

supplied)

In tis /ase, tere is no /ontro5ers4 as to te e3isten/e o8 te tree e-e*ents.

Te res"ondents na*e and address 7ere /-ear-4 indi/ated in te arti/-e as/ri0in to

i* te 6estiona0-e "ra/ti/e o8 sootin te 7a47ard "ets o8 is nei0ors. Te

0a/:-as /ased 04 te "0-i/ation o8 te arti/-e 7as in 8a/t s/ tat stones ad

0een tro7n at teir ose, 0rea:in se5era- 8-o7er "ots, and dai-4 and nit-4/a--s /o*"e--ed i* to re6est a /ane o8 teir te-e"one n*0er.sti8ia0-e *oti5e 8or *a:in it is so7n, e3/e"t in te 8o--o7in /ases

#. A "ri5ate /o**ni/ation *ade 04 an4 "erson to anoter in te

"er8or*an/e o8 an4 -ea-, *ora- or so/ia- dt4 and

'. A 8air and tre re"ort, *ade in ood 8ait, 7itot an4 /o**ents or

re*ar:s, o8 an4 >di/ia-, -eis-ati5e or oter o88i/ia- "ro/eedins

7i/ are not o8 /on8identia- natre, or o8 an4 state*ent, re"ort or

s"ee/ de-i5ered in said "ro/eedins, or o8 an4 oter a/t "er8or*ed

04 "0-i/ o88i/ers in te e3er/ise o8 teir 8n/tions.

The article is not a privile!ed communication. ?e 8irst dis/ssed te

8reedo* o8 s"ee/ and "ress and asse*0-4 vis$a$viste -a7s on -i0e- and s-ander in
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2005/dec2005/143372.htm#_ftn22


10/17

te rond0rea:in /ase o8 &' v. (ustos,


11/17

&' v. (ustos de8ined te /on/e"t o8 "ri5ate /o**ni/ation ts

A /o**ni/ation *ade 0ona 8ide "on an4 s0>e/t*atter in 7i/ te "art4

/o**ni/atin as an interest, or in re8eren/e to 7i/ e as a dt4, is "ri5i-eed,

i8 *ade to a "erson a5in a /orres"ondin interest or dt4, a-to it /ontained

/ri*inator4 *atter 7i/ 7itot tis "ri5i-ee 7o-d 0e s-anderos and

a/tiona0-e. A "ertinent i--stration o8 te a""-i/ation o8 6a-i8ied "ri5i-ee is a

/o*"-aint *ade in ood 8ait and 7itot *a-i/e in reard to te /ara/ter or

/ond/t o8 apublic official 7en addressed to an o88i/er or a 0oard a5in so*e

interest or dt4 in te *atter.


12/17

o88i/ers in te e3er/ise o8 teir 8n/tions, 8or it /on/erns on-4 8a-se i*"tations

aainst Toenen, a "ri5ate indi5ida- see:in a 6iet -i8e.

Te "etitioners a-so /-ai* to a5e *ade te re"ort ot o8 a so/ia- and *ora-

dt4 to in8or* te "0-i/ on *atters o8 enera- interest.

In(or*al v. Court of Appeals, 7e stated tat te en*eration nder Art. %2$

is not an e3/-si5e -ist o8 6a-i8ied-4 "ri5i-eed /o**ni/ations sin/e &ir

co$$ent&ries on $&tters o !%b#ic interestare -i:e7ise "ri5i-eed. ?e stated

tat te do/trine o8 8air /o**entaries *eans tat 7i-e in enera- e5er4

dis/redita0-e i*"tation "0-i/-4 *ade is dee*ed 8a-se, 0e/ase e5er4 *an is

"res*ed inno/ent nti- is i-t is >di/ia--4 "ro5ed, and e5er4 8a-se i*"tation isdee*ed *a-i/ios, ne5erte-ess, 7en te dis/redita0-e i*"tation is dire/ted

aainst a "0-i/ "erson in is "0-i/ /a"a/it4, it is not ne/essari-4 a/tiona0-e. In

order tat s/ dis/redita0-e i*"tation to a "0-i/ o88i/ia- *a4 0e a/tiona0-e, it

*st eiter 0e a 8a-se a--eation o8 8a/t or a /o**ent 0ased on a 8a-se s""osition.


13/17

In#olicarpio v. anila Times #ublishin! Co. -nc.,


14/17

in order and *ora-it4 Te :no7in-4 8a-se state*ent and te 8a-se state*ent *ade

7it re/:-ess disreard o8 te trt, do not en>o4 /onstittiona- "rote/tion (/itations

o*itted).oint-4and se5era--4 04 te erein "etitioners. In +uevarra v. Almario,


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?E CONCUR

RE)NA(O S. P*NO

Asso/iate Jsti/e

Cair*an

'A. A+ICIA A*S(RIA-'AR(INEZ

Asso/iate Jsti/e

RO'EO . CA++EO, SR.

Asso/iate Jsti/e

DAN(E O. (INAAsso/iate Jsti/e

A ( ( E S ( A ( I O N

I attest tat te /on/-sions in te a0o5e De/ision 7ere rea/ed in /ons-tation

0e8ore te /ase 7as assined to te 7riter o8 te o"inion o8 te Corts Di5ision.

RE)NA(O S. P*NO

Asso/iate Jsti/e

Cair*an, Se/ond Di5ision


16/17

C E R ( I I C A ( I O NPrsant to Arti/-e BIII, Se/tion #% o8 te Constittion, and te Di5ision

Cair*ans Attestation, it is ere04 /erti8ied tat te /on/-sions in te a0o5e

De/ision 7ere rea/ed in /ons-tation 0e8ore te /ase 7as assined to te 7riter o8

te o"inion o8 te Corts Di5ision.

HI+ARIO . DAVIDE, R.

Cie8 Jsti/e


17/17

sini8i/ant-4 reater a//ess to te /anne-s o8 e88e/ti5e /o**ni/ation and en/e a5e a *ore rea-isti/

o""ortnit4 to /ontera/t 8a-se state*ents tan "ri5ate indi5ida-s nor*a--4 en>o4. Pri5ate indi5ida-s are

tere8ore *ore 5-nera0-e to in>r4, and te state interest in "rote/tin te* is /orres"ondin-4

reater. 'econd, an indi5ida- 7o de/ides to see: o5ern*enta- o88i/e *st a//e"t /ertain ne/essar4/onse6en/es o8 tat in5o-5e*ent in "0-i/ a88airs. He rns te ris: o8 /-oser "0-i/ s/rtin4 tan *it

oter7ise 0e te /ase. Tose /-assed as "0-i/ 8ires stand in a si*i-ar "osition. !or te *ost "art tose

7o attain tis stats a5e ass*ed ro-es o8 es"e/ia- "ro*inen/e in te a88airs o8 so/iet4. So*e o//"4

"ositions o8 s/ "ersasi5e "o7er and in8-en/e tat te4 are dee*ed "0-i/ 8ires 8or a-- "r"oses. +ore/o**on-4, tose /-assed as "0-i/ 8ires a5e trst te*se-5es to te 8ore8ront o8 "arti/-ar "0-i/

/ontro5ersies in order to in8-en/e te reso-tion o8 te isses in5o-5ed. In eiter e5ent, te4 in5ite attention

and /o**ent. Third tis 7o-d i*"ose an additiona- di88i/-t4 on tria- /ort >des to de/ide 7i/

"0-i/ations address isses o8 enera- interest and 7i/ do not.r4 8ro*

de8a*ator4 8a-seood /on/ernin te*. No s/ ass*"tion is >sti8ied 7it res"e/t to a "ri5ate indi5ida-.

He as not a//e"ted "0-i/ o88i/e or ass*ed an in8-entia- ro-e in orderin so/iet4. (Curtis #ublishin! Co.v. (utts% U.S., at #$) He as re-in6ised no "art o8 is interest in te "rote/tion o8 is o7n ood

na*e, and /onse6ent-4 e as a *ore /o*"e--in /a-- on te /orts 8or redress o8 in>r4 in8-i/ted 04

de8a*ator4 8a-seood. Ts, "ri5ate indi5ida-s are not on-4 *ore 5-nera0-e to in>r4 tan "0-i/ o88i/ia-s

and "0-i/ 8ires te4 are a-so *ore deser5in o8 re/o5er4.

6. pji vs thoenen

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