De Lima, Paolo Duterte clash over libel complaints vs media

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) said Rep. Paolo Duterte's libel and cyber libel complaints against GMA Network send a "chilling" message to journalists.

De Lima criticized Duterte's complaints in a social media post Friday, October 23, saying journalists should not face punishment for reporting allegations of corruption.

"Filing a libel case against a media network and its journalists for doing their job of reporting allegations of corruption sends a chilling message to other media practitioners," De Lima said.

She said attacks against GMA Network and other media outlets following the filing could also be read as a warning to journalists that they "could be the next to be sued."

"This is clearly an attempt to silence journalists and truth-seekers, depriving them of their freedom of the press," De Lima said.

She linked the complaints to what she described as the Duterte family's history of conflict with media organizations, citing actions involving Rappler, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and ABS-CBN during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

De Lima said journalists merely reported accusations made by witnesses and argued that seeking information about the allegations was part of their responsibility to the public.

The lawmaker, a former human rights commissioner and justice secretary, had led investigations into killings in Davao City. She was later detained on drug-related charges during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency, before courts determined insufficient evidence against her.

Paolo Duterte rejected De Lima's criticism Saturday, October 24, arguing that seeking legal redress is not an attack on press freedom.

"Filing a case through the legal process is not an attack on press freedom, but a right available to every citizen," Duterte said in a Cebuano social media post.

Duterte acknowledged the importance of press freedom to democracy but said journalists also have a responsibility to ensure their reports have sufficient basis.

"Reporting an allegation and proving that it is true are two different things," he said. He added that allegations should be addressed through evidence and due process.

Duterte then turned personal in his response, bringing up past allegations against De Lima involving the New Bilibid Prison and saying an accused person has the right to defend himself.

He ended his post with a swipe at De Lima, telling her to stay in Congress, "just keep acting cute there" and "keep smiling for now."

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