Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp sued a news organization over its claims that the presidential aspirant is working with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, filed a cyber libel complaint at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against a reporter, the managing editors, owners, and publisher of Journal News Online, People’s Journal, and People’s Journal Tonight for an article alleging that CPP founder Joma Sison is Robredo’s presidential campaign consultant.
Gutierrez said the allegations are “fabricated” and “fictitious”.
In the Journal News Online report, an alleged statement from CPP’s official online news organ, Ang Bayan, said that Sison admitted he was consulting Robredo’s team. However, the alleged quote that the Journal news story quoted cannot be found on Ang Bayan.
Other false claims include Sison being a key contributor to the Robredo campaign. The article also alleged that Gutierrez is involved in the CPP’s “legal front” and was acting as a conduit for talks between Sison and Robredo.
However, Sison and Robredo’s camp debunked the claims in separate statements.
Robredo said that she never spoke with Sison who lives in exile in the Netherlands.
“Ilang ulit ko na ring inilinaw na hindi ako kailanman makikipag-ugnayan sa sinumang indibidwal o grupo na gumagamit ng dahas para isulong ang interes,” she said in a statement.
“Malinaw na kasinungalingan ang paratang na siya ay nagbibigay ng ‘advice’ sa akin o sinuman sa aking staff,” she added.
The article did not substantiate its claims. — Ronald Espartinez