(Eagle News) — The businessman who filed cyber libel charges against Rappler Inc., its executive editor Maria Ressa and former reporter Reynaldo Santos on Friday, Feb. 15, said he was “exploring other cases that can be filed” against the online news outfit and Ressa, as he decried what he said were their attempts to mislead the public.
In a statement, Wilfredo Keng slammed what he said was Rappler’s and Ressa’s “ingenious attempt to divert attention away from this singular legal issue,” by “intentionally and wrongfully lump(ing) my case together with all other cases” that have been filed against them, and “postur(ing)” the cases as “alleged concerted silencing maneuvers by the government.”
“I have nothing to do with and I am in no way being used by the government. I am an ordinary, private citizen and this is a personal, private suit. It is a basic remedy filed against defamatory words,” Keng maintained.
He said his case “does not tackle state suppression of policy criticism or of free expression of sentiment” and its “filing and progression do not impinge in any way on freedom of speech and of the press, freedoms which I fully believe in and support.”
In fact, he said his case was “aligned through a common objective of truth, its resolution revolving around the answer to one simple question: Did Rappler, Ressa and (Santos) lie about me?”
“I decry any attempt, blatant or veiled, to mislead the Filipino people and thwart public appreciation of the real issue at hand,” Keng said.
Just, equitable relief
Keng said that because of Rappler’s and Ressa’s acts, “much worse, they further demean my efforts to seek just and equitable judicial relief as ‘preposterous and baseless,’ as a possible ‘attempt to intimidate’, as ‘black propaganda,’ and (and this is what makes me cry ‘foul!’) as ‘lies.’
He noted it was his “right” as a private citizen to “pursue this legal battle.”
“Who has publicly and continuously made baseless accusations? Who has strategically repackaged a personal suit into a purported governmental attack in a manner that intimidates private hardworking citizens from enforcing their legal rights? Who repeatedly, knowingly and falsely smears an innocent individual’s name to the point of endangering his life, limb and property? Who, really, has lied?” Keng asked.
Keng also called on the country’s leaders and lawmakers to “respect the laws on cybercrime which they themselves have minutely deliberated on and passed” and hoped they could “legislate and enforce a system that will never allow malicious and cunning impunity in the propagation of lies especially by individuals and entities equipped on all fronts to sustain such lies for countless generations.”
“If, contrary to our trust, our representatives permit or tolerate clear libel, then I hope that what I and my family are suffering through does not happen to them; for then I wonder, what will they do?” Keng said.
“I will continue this criminal case against Rappler and Ressa..I know that I face a hard fight and a formidable opponent..Nevertheless, I will persevere and do the right thing because even against such overwhelming odds, I believe that justice and truth will win. The law will reign supreme,” he added.