(Eagle News)–The Court of Appeals has stood by its previous decision upholding the conviction of a critic of Senator Franklin Drilon for libel.
In upholding its September 2018 decision, the former second division effectively affirmed the Pasay Regional Trial Court’s sentencing of Manuel Mejorada to up to four years and two months of imprisonment for his social media posts accusing Drilon of benefiting from the construction of projects including the Iloilo Convention Center.
In a statement, Mejorada said he would seek relief from the Supreme Court.
“With due respect to the CA and the RTC, I believe there was no libel as the element of injury was not established with the failure of Senator Franklin Drilon to testify,” he said.
He said “injury in libel is personal and nobody but the complainant can tell the Court on how he felt about the alleged libelous publications.
“I am confident this issue on the failure of Senator Drilon will be given due consideration,” he said, adding that the ruling would “send shivers down the spines of journalists.”
