THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the conviction for four counts of libel of former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel P. Mejorada. In a three-page resolution, the CA denied the motion for reconsideration of Mr. Mejorada in which he cited that the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 118 erred in imposing imprisonment as penalty instead of a fine. “(T)he judicial discretion granted to judges to rule on the appropriate penalty for the crime of libel must necessarily involve the exercise of judgement on the part of the court,” the CA said. The case filed by Senator Franklin M. Drilon involves four articles indicating that he intervened in various projects of Iloilo City “by manipulating them as well as benefitting himself by unwarranted gains.” In a statement, Mr. Mejorada said he will bring the case before the Supreme Court as he believes that there was no libel as the element of the injury was not established when Mr. Drilon failed to testify. “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. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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