Cyber libel vs Bello
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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) —Defeated vice-presidential candidate Professor Walden Bello said that the people of Davao are for the “rule of law” and will support him as his trial for the two counts of cyber libel began on Monday at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 here.
Bello told reporters City’s ex-city information in a press conference at RI¿FHU -HIU\ 7XSDV the Le Café Rotunda on He believed that most Monday that he has received of the “ordinary people” in an overwhelming Davao will be supportive support from the ordinary of him as they “do not want Dabawenyos as he faces the the politization or weaponization F\EHU OLEHO FKDUJHV ¿OHG LQ of cyber libel” court by the City Prosecubecause they are for the WRU¶V 2I¿FH EDVHG RQ WKH ³UXOH RI ODZ ´
FRPSODLQW ¿OHG E\ 'DYDR “And I would just like to say that in our coming to Davao over the last year and a half in the preliminaries of this case, we have gotten a lot of support from ordinary Dabawenyos who realize what’s at stake— maybe not from big political families but certainly from ordinary people of Davao—because of that I think that hospitality we have received from people here is very heartening,” KH VDLG
Bello appeared during the trial, along with his lead counsels, lawyers Danny Balucos and Estrella Elamparo, who cross examined the prosecution’s ¿UVW ZLWQHVV 5RJHU %DD\ D FORVH IULHQG RI 7XSDV
Bello said his case has gained local and international attention, saying there is so much at stake in the cyber libel charges DJDLQVW KLP
He said the decision of the trial court may affect the country’s own standing in the international comPXQLW\
Bello added that it was unfortunate that the charges reached trial because government resources are being wasted for a “case like this which really is very shallow, has no basis and is in fact mainly pushed for SROLWLFDO UHDVRQV ´
He said he remains hopeful the trial court would eventually dismiss FKDUJHV DJDLQVW KLP
Elamparo said the defense team noted several loopholes in the statements of the prosecution’s first witness including, among others, the lack of personal knowledge about the controversial beach