Mike Arroyo drops all libel cases vs media

(Updated 5:40 p.m.) First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on Thursday ordered his lawyers to withdraw all of his libel cases filed against members of the Philippine media. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye on Thursday read Arroyo's statement before members of the Malacañang Press Corps, saying it was the First Gentleman's "gesture for peace." The announcement came the same day that World Press Freedom Day was being celebrated. Arroyo was discharged last Tuesday from the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City after recovering from aneurysmectomy and triple heart bypass surgery. Doctors advised him not to engage in stressful activities, since he will continue to undergo cardiac therapy in the coming days. Arroyo heaped criticism from local and international media watchdogs, and was even branded as an "enemy" of Philippine press freedom. He has filed 10 libel cases against 46 mediamen. Some of the journalists he sued were surprised by his "gesture," though others were not impressed because the libel suits he filed were baseless in the first place. "When he said what happened to him was nothing short of a miracle, I really believed it was a miracle. We were surprised," said Romina "Mia" Gonzalez, Malacañang reporter of BusinessMirror newspaper. Gonzalez, whom Manila policemen tried to arrest in Malacañang over the libel suit some months back, said Arroyo may have had "a lot of time to reflect on what happened to him." "Maybe he thought the libel cases weren't worth pursuing, not worth the aggravation to him and the people he field suits against," she said. However, reporter Regina Bengco of Malaya newspaper said that while Arroyo's gesture was a nice gift for World Press Freedom Day, the libel suits he filed were baseless in the first place. "It's a nice gift for World Press Freedom Day but he had no basis to sue us in the first place so I don't feel overwhelmed," Bengco said. For her part, Newsbreak editor in chief Maritess Danguilan-Vitug expressed elation that libel cases against her and four colleagues will be dropped. However, Vitug said that if she had her way, she would rather see the cases resolved in court. Arroyo sued Vitug, managing editor Glenda Gloria, editorial consultant Jose Dalisay, former contributing editor Booma Cruz and former business editor Ricky Carandang for publishing a 2003 article about his alleged hidden assets in California. "We're glad that the FG (First Gentleman) has seen the light. But he should never have filed these cases in the first place. We would like this matter to be resolved in court on its merits. This will provide journalists with parameters on libel and what it is not," Vitug said. Meanwhile, regional media organization Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa) welcomed the development, but warned against heaping praises for the First Gentleman. "We'd rather credit the journalists for pushing back, rather than FGMA (First Gentleman Mike Arroyo) for any change of heart," said Seapa executive director Roby Alampay. He added that, "The very act of [filing] 40+ cases was the crime. He is not fooling anyone, just as he is not scaring anyone. FGMA remains an enemy of press freedom. So no thanks to FGMA. All congrats to Pinoy (journalists)." - GMANews.TV