Thinking Pinoy blogger Rey Joseph Nieto on Tuesday said that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is "ignorant of the law," after the senator announced that he will sue Nieto for libel.
"It is disappointing to see a lawmaker who is ignorant of the law. The allegedly libelous statement contains the word 'reportedly'," Nieto said in a text message to GMA News Online.
"I hope the Senator, who appears to have no access to a dictionary, can at least Google what that word means," he added.
In a blog post on November 2, Nieto said that he had earlier published a photo with a caption saying that Trump had "reportedly" called Trillanes a "narco."
Trillanes earlier said that he will file libel cases against Nieto and Manila Times columnist Yen Makabenta for allegedly circulating "fake news."
"Well pini-prepare na ng abogado ko yung libel case so kakasuhan namin siya ng libel, yung nagkalat sila ng fake news na tinawag daw ako ni President Trump na 'little narco'," Trillanes said during the Kapihan sa Senado.
"Maliwanag na 'yon doon sa US government website on the presidential pronouncements and interviews, wala talaga doon. So kasinungalingan talaga 'yan. It's a propaganda operation na sasalabungin ko 'yan," he added.
The opposition senator, however, did not say when he will file the libel cases.
Veteran journalist Al Pedroche has apologized for writing the newspaper column that claimed US President Donald Trump called Trillanes "little narco," saying that the article was meant as a laughing matter.
In his Pilipino Star Ngayon Column "Fake news inupakan ni Sen. Trillanes," Pedroche admitted that he was responsible for the "Little Narco met with Sen. Marco" article which Trillanes dismissed as fake news.
Pedroche's column was picked up by another Philippine Star columnist Mary Ann Reyes in her opinion piece "A major embarrassment," which was taken down on November 3 as the "supposed information cited in the column has been disputed by various other sources."
In September, Trillanes filed multiple criminal complaints against Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux "Mocha" Uson for allegedly spearheading the spread of fake news that he had offshore bank accounts.
Trillanes charged Uson before the Office of the Ombudsman with three counts of libel under the Anti-Cybercrime Law and using falsified documents under the Revised Penal Code.
For performing at a casino in Pasay City, Uson was also accused of grave misconduct, and violation of the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees [Sec. 7(B)(2)], as well as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act [Section 3(e)].
Nieto and Uson are both staunch supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Source: GMANews
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