CYBERLIBEL RAPS
HOUSE Majority Leader Zamboanga City Representative Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe has filed a cyberlibel complaint against the Manila Times Publishing Corporation and several of its officers, editors, and writers for publishing a malicious and false report based on a fabricated election campaign document.
In his complaint filed before the Zamboanga City Prosecutor’s Office, Dalipe said the Manila Times’ article titled “Leaked paper lays out poll attack plan” falsely attributed to him a supposed “Mid-Election Campaign Sprint Action Plan” aimed at orchestrating the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and disqualifying her allies.
The alleged document bore a forged signature attributed to him, falsely linking him to an alleged political maneuver known as “Oplan Horus.”
“These accusations are without merit, and I categorically deny the authenticity of this document,” Dalipe declared in his sworn affidavit.
He emphasized that the so-called “Oplan Horus” document was fabricated and bore a forged signature attributed to him.
“I cannot allow myself to be the subject of another’s desperate attempt to make a baseless claim that seeks not only to tarnish my reputation but to destabilize the political landscape by attributing to me actions that are both uncharacteristic and contrary to the principles of fair play and democracy that I have always upheld,” Dalipe stated.
Named respondents in the complaint are the Manila Times Publishing Corporation, its officials Dante Francis M. Ang II, Michael Alexander M. Ang, Anna Marie A. Thompson, Dante A. Ang, Ma. Preciosa Monica DV. Ang, Joanna Paola DV. Ang, Michele Denise D. Saludo, and Joseph Noel M. Estrada, as among the management and directors of the publication.
Also included are editors Arnold Belleza, Leena Calso Chua, Lynette O. Luna, Tessa Mauricio-Arriola, Conrad M. Cariño, Emil Noguera, Frederick Nasiad, Dafort Villaseran, and Rene H. Dilan, as well as the writers of the article Red Mendoza, Kaiser Jan Fuentes, and Catherine S. Valente.
He also pointed out the deliberate recklessness of the Manila Times writers and editors, noting that they never attempted to verify the authenticity of the so-called Oplan Horus document with him.
He stressed that even after Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, the Bagong Alyansa campaign manager, publicly denied the authenticity of the document, the Manila Times still chose to proceed with its publication.
“The deliberate omission to verify the Falsified Document with me – despite its facially dubious content and obvious implausibility – compounded by an explicit denial from another party, amounts to a blatant disregard for the truth,” Dalipe emphasized.
