In this era when our nation is focused on the battle against corruption, allow me to say that this month, March 2012, marks the 42nd anniversary of a multi-million libel case filed against us.
On March 24, 1970, the provincial treasurer of Zamboanga del Norte and 34 employees in his office filed an P8.75 million libel suit against The Mindanao Observer of Dipolog City, particularly against myself as editor-in-chief, Teodulfo T. Despojo Jr. (a fellow Sillimanian) as managing editor; and Jacobo S. Amatong as publisher. This was the biggest libel suit ever filed in the Philippines up to that time.
The suit arose from our editorial, March 23, 1970 issue titled Kick out the crooks, grafters from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. The editorial stemmed from allegations there was massive overpricing in the purchase of accountable forms and an office car without bidding, resulting in a loss of almost P45,000 (a tremendous amount at that time) to the government. It appeared that the incumbent governor of the time was also behind the suit. To make a long story short, after a year of a dragging preliminary investigation, with testimonies by prosecution and defense witnesses, the suit was dismissed by the provincial fiscal.
In the duration of the case, we drew support from lawyers of the local press club that included Sillimanians like Eliezer Echavez, Dominador Canastra and Jose Sar. Pacatang. The National Press Club’s Antonio Zumel, and the Philippine Press Institute in Manila condemned the suit. Two Silliman professors came to Dipolog to testify on our behalf, that no libel was involved, because the element of malice was absent and no specific names were mentioned. They were Dr. Crispin Maslog, director of the Silliman School of Journalism and Communications, and the late Atty. Alexander Amor, Silliman professor of journalism, and PNS correspondent for Negros Oriental. They also stressed: the press is a watchdog against malfeasance in government.
Incidentally, the record shows that Silliman students signed resolutions supporting us. Among the signers, Aguiles Brillantes and Raunil Tionamba of the College of Law; Ruben Pagsuberon of the Weekly Sillimanian, Amado Arrieta of Apo fraternity; Rogelio Tangara of the Settlers’ Cooperative Association; Peter Cabautan of Lambda Beta and the KM; Hector Taypad of Gamma Kappa; Leonilo Oliva of the Graduate School; and Dexter Batuigas and Arturo Bobon of the Order of DeMolay.
As a reminiscing, this is “a bit” late, but thanks, brethren and friends.(Just wanted to share a part of our life story, one event in our experience as an idealistic young editor crusading for good government, and in the process clashed with many powers-that-be in that part of the Philippines–years before joining foreign service.)
Ambassador MacArthur F. Corsino
Dumaguete City