From the Manila Times:
Malacañang on Sunday warned the country’s two biggest television networks they could be dragged into a legal battle if the Palace decides to sue the Genuine Opposition for allegedly libelous TV political advertisements.
Secretary Sergio Apostol, chief presidential legal counsel, reminded ABS-CBN and GMA 7 “they have a responsibility” to the public for what they air.
GO had prepared four TV ads that highlight corruption and other issues against the Arroyo administration.
ABS-CBN reportedly accepted the ad on corruption but only after GO made some changes to it.
GMA 7 rejected the corruption ad completely, but accepted the other three materials.
“Under libel law, they shoulder the responsibilities for what they air,” Apostol said of the networks.
But he added that the networks already knew the consequences. “We will just monitor them. If we find basis to file any charges, that’s the time that we will act accordingly,” Apostol said.
Hmmm... gov't filing libel cases against the media. Hindi ba ginawa rin ni Erap yan dati sa Manila Times?
then they later calibrated their statements to say that they will settle this after the elections.
The administration’s Team Unity (TU), however, also yesterday said it is determined to file criminal raps in connection with the GO television ad, which it says is very libelous.
But filing of libel suit has to wait until the senatorial elections are over by May 14.
TU spokesman Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, during a weekly forum in Greenhills, San Juan, said “we will file after elections to avoid any political color in the filing of the case.”
He added “the administration has no plans to file any libel case now, maybe after the elections.”
after the elections, huh? i guess warning na yan sa mga TV stations, especially sa GMA7.
Malou Mangahas, who is GMAnews editor-in-chief, was also editor in chief of Manila Times under Gokongwei's time. Lessons learned, baby, lessons learned.
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