Manny Pacquiao Files Libel Suit Against Wr...
Glax0r
06 Mar 2012
Boxing champ files P75-M libel case against journalist in General Santos
bworldonline.com
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao has filed a libel case against a chapter chairman of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP). The boxing champion is seeking P75 million in damages against Edwin G. Espejo, chairman of the NUJP for South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City.
Mr. Espejo writes for the Asian Correspondent. He also maintains a column called "Pacquiao Watch" and "Southern Comfort."
Mr. Pacquiao’s case stemmed from the recent articles of Mr. Espejo, which appeared on the online news outfits Asian Correspondent and "MindaNews."
At the Asian Correspondent, the piece was titled "Stolen car dealer finds refuge in Pacman mansion," while MindaNews titled it "Dealer of stolen cars last seen in Pacman mansion."
Citing reports, Mr. Espejo wrote that Mohammad "Bong" Akia, former head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group in Region 12, or Central Mindanao, was seen disembarking from a commercial plane from Manila two weeks ago, and immediately boarded the waiting vehicle of Mr. Pacquiao who flew in on the same flight.
"Reports said Akia accompanied Pacquiao in the latter’s residence and has not been seen since," Mr. Espejo reported. An earlier press statement from the Philippine National Police said the suspect (whose surname was spelled Aquia) has been charged with violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act.
The case was filed against Mr. Akia after the Highway Patrol Group arrested a village official here for possession of a stolen Hyundai Starex van. The village official identified Mr. Akia as the source of the "hot car" that was forcibly carjacked from a businessman in Angeles City and replaced with a license plate registered to showbiz celebrity Luis S. Manzano, the police statement said.
Mr. Pacquiao’s lawyers filed the libel suit late Monday afternoon at the city prosecutor’s office. Mr. Espejo said he has yet to formally receive a copy of the complaint but that he was able to obtain a copy from a third party. "I’ll stand by my story," he told BusinessWorld, noting that he was still trying to find a lawyer to help him and that he was still waiting for the official copy of the complaint before issuing any more comments.
In the two articles that were the basis of Mr. Pacquiao’s complaint, Mr. Espejo wrote that Mr. Pacquiao could not be reached for comment at the time because he was in the US promoting his upcoming fight with American Timothy Bradley.
Mr. Pacquiao’s lawyer, Francisco Gacal, said he was not aware Mr. Akia was in Mr. Pacquiao’s residence, the article reads.
Mr. Gacal, younger brother of longtime Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal, Jr., said he will have to confirm the reports with the eight-time world boxing champion, it added.
"Knowing Congressman (Pacquiao) and Jinky, they do not allow GenSan (General Santos) guests to stay in their mansion," Mr. Gacal said even as he said he will inform Mr. Pacquiao about the rumor that Mr. Akia is still holed up inside the residence of the congressman, according to the articles.
In the MindaNews article, the piece cited a report posted on www.journal.com.ph on Feb. 26. The Journal report said that police personnel were ready to arrest Mr. Akia at the General Santos City airport morning of Feb. 11 but Mr. Akia hurriedly went to Mr. Pacquiao, who had just arrived on board a commercial plane from Manila and was walking to his Hummer. -- Romer S. Sarmiento
bworldonline.com
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao has filed a libel case against a chapter chairman of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP). The boxing champion is seeking P75 million in damages against Edwin G. Espejo, chairman of the NUJP for South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City.
Mr. Espejo writes for the Asian Correspondent. He also maintains a column called "Pacquiao Watch" and "Southern Comfort."
Mr. Pacquiao’s case stemmed from the recent articles of Mr. Espejo, which appeared on the online news outfits Asian Correspondent and "MindaNews."
At the Asian Correspondent, the piece was titled "Stolen car dealer finds refuge in Pacman mansion," while MindaNews titled it "Dealer of stolen cars last seen in Pacman mansion."
Citing reports, Mr. Espejo wrote that Mohammad "Bong" Akia, former head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group in Region 12, or Central Mindanao, was seen disembarking from a commercial plane from Manila two weeks ago, and immediately boarded the waiting vehicle of Mr. Pacquiao who flew in on the same flight.
"Reports said Akia accompanied Pacquiao in the latter’s residence and has not been seen since," Mr. Espejo reported. An earlier press statement from the Philippine National Police said the suspect (whose surname was spelled Aquia) has been charged with violation of Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act.
The case was filed against Mr. Akia after the Highway Patrol Group arrested a village official here for possession of a stolen Hyundai Starex van. The village official identified Mr. Akia as the source of the "hot car" that was forcibly carjacked from a businessman in Angeles City and replaced with a license plate registered to showbiz celebrity Luis S. Manzano, the police statement said.
Mr. Pacquiao’s lawyers filed the libel suit late Monday afternoon at the city prosecutor’s office. Mr. Espejo said he has yet to formally receive a copy of the complaint but that he was able to obtain a copy from a third party. "I’ll stand by my story," he told BusinessWorld, noting that he was still trying to find a lawyer to help him and that he was still waiting for the official copy of the complaint before issuing any more comments.
In the two articles that were the basis of Mr. Pacquiao’s complaint, Mr. Espejo wrote that Mr. Pacquiao could not be reached for comment at the time because he was in the US promoting his upcoming fight with American Timothy Bradley.
Mr. Pacquiao’s lawyer, Francisco Gacal, said he was not aware Mr. Akia was in Mr. Pacquiao’s residence, the article reads.
Mr. Gacal, younger brother of longtime Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal, Jr., said he will have to confirm the reports with the eight-time world boxing champion, it added.
"Knowing Congressman (Pacquiao) and Jinky, they do not allow GenSan (General Santos) guests to stay in their mansion," Mr. Gacal said even as he said he will inform Mr. Pacquiao about the rumor that Mr. Akia is still holed up inside the residence of the congressman, according to the articles.
In the MindaNews article, the piece cited a report posted on www.journal.com.ph on Feb. 26. The Journal report said that police personnel were ready to arrest Mr. Akia at the General Santos City airport morning of Feb. 11 but Mr. Akia hurriedly went to Mr. Pacquiao, who had just arrived on board a commercial plane from Manila and was walking to his Hummer. -- Romer S. Sarmiento
you_got_sunned
06 Mar 2012
Manny "punkman" pacquaio. King of the catchweights, king of the court room! LOL
tigerthelion
06 Mar 2012
Somewhere at this moment, there is a certain fanatic who is coming up with a way to make Pac sound like a noble hero because of this story. 
Antonious
06 Mar 2012
I remember a rumor floating around that some forum posters would taste the wrath of mannys sue.
serial
06 Mar 2012
Looks like Pacs really learning the political game. Who needs a good straight left when you have a good lawyer.
The_Ikon
06 Mar 2012
jeremiah2l
06 Mar 2012
you_got_sunned, on 06 March 2012 - 04:17 PM, said:
Manny "punkman" pacquaio. King of the catchweights, king of the court room! LOL
Though I don't like lawsuits and I think Pac is misguided in doing these types of things, you also have to consider the fact that he is sueing as evidence of his innocence. When Bonds and Clemmons and others were implicated in steriod scandals, many said that the fact that they did not sue the people saying they were guilty was evidence that they were guilty.
Whether it is steriod accusations or this accusation, filing a suit opens Pac up to more scrutiny and more intrusiveness into his life than simply ignoring the accusations. They are a bit silly, but also provide some credence to what he is saying as he is willing to back up his words.
ender
07 Mar 2012
At the end of the day, Manny's penchant for letting lawyers drain his coffers will be his financial undoing.
I do find it hilarious that the same guys constantly trashing shitty filipino journalism are now trashing Manny for trying to put one in his place for writing something he claims is not true.
From Manny to his detractors, this one is hilarious all the way around.
I do find it hilarious that the same guys constantly trashing shitty filipino journalism are now trashing Manny for trying to put one in his place for writing something he claims is not true.
From Manny to his detractors, this one is hilarious all the way around.
you_got_sunned
07 Mar 2012
jeremiah2l, on 06 March 2012 - 10:55 PM, said:
Though I don't like lawsuits and I think Pac is misguided in doing these types of things, you also have to consider the fact that he is sueing as evidence of his innocence. When Bonds and Clemmons and others were implicated in steriod scandals, many said that the fact that they did not sue the people saying they were guilty was evidence that they were guilty.
Whether it is steriod accusations or this accusation, filing a suit opens Pac up to more scrutiny and more intrusiveness into his life than simply ignoring the accusations. They are a bit silly, but also provide some credence to what he is saying as he is willing to back up his words.
the lawsuit against floyd filed 2 years ago was an attempt to just save face for ducking the blood tests. What the outcome of the lawsuit will be is irellevent. If paced truley wanted to prove his innocence he woulda just took the tests 2 years ago.
Pacs only got a fight or 2 left in him. so hopefully he can shake down a few more people with lawsuits so he can still support all the sardines around him.
9secondko
07 Mar 2012
you_got_sunned, on 07 March 2012 - 01:23 AM, said:
the lawsuit against floyd filed 2 years ago was an attempt to just save face for ducking the blood tests. What the outcome of the lawsuit will be is irellevent. If paced truley wanted to prove his innocence he woulda just took the tests 2 years ago.
Pacs only got a fight or 2 left in him. so hopefully he can shake down a few more people with lawsuits so he can still support all the sardines around him.
Anyone who says the P4P guy should take tests his opponent added is crazy. There were way too many unanswered questions about it (and still are). When your opponent tells you to do it and the company that owes its thanks to said opponent for getting it involved in the first place is doing the testing, there are lots of legitimate reasons not to. Especially when it was unprecedented. As ended has dug up much information on the timeframe vs random testing and the t/e ratios, it's obvious the whole thing has been a ruse. I wonder what ratio Floyd has been at...
you_got_sunned
07 Mar 2012
9secondko, on 07 March 2012 - 10:24 PM, said:
Anyone who says the P4P guy should take tests his opponent added is crazy. There were way too many unanswered questions about it (and still are). When your opponent tells you to do it and the company that owes its thanks to said opponent for getting it involved in the first place is doing the testing, there are lots of legitimate reasons not to. Especially when it was unprecedented. As ended has dug up much information on the timeframe vs random testing and the t/e ratios, it's obvious the whole thing has been a ruse. I wonder what ratio Floyd has been at...
Lol it wasn't just the bloodtests. The refusal of the tests came first, look at all the excuses pacs team made up on why pac can't take bloodtests. And why he can't fight on may 5th. Lol the guy gets the nod over marquez in his last fight and his team made excuses on why they won LOL.
