A MANILA trial court has rejected online news website Rappler’s plea to void testimonies given by a businessman who had accused it of cyberlibel damages.

In an order dated Sept. 27, Judge Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa overruled most of Rappler’s objections to the judicial affidavit of businessman Wilfredo D. Keng. Rappler had objected to his answers for being irrelevant.

One of the objections included Mr. Keng’s claim that a 2012 Rapple article about Mr. Keng lending a vehicle to former Chief Justice Renato Corona had taken a toll on his family. Mr. Keng had also noted that since the article came out, his image as a businessman had been tarnished.

On the other hand, the court sustained Rappler’s objection to the businessman’s statement about Rappler founder Maria Ressa posting a 2002 Philippine Star article that alleged Mr. Keng’s involvement in the murder of a former Manila councilor. Rappler said this was irrelevant to the cyberlibel case. — Gillian M. Cortez

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