THE lawyer of veteran journalist Philip Lustre Jr. called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate how a cyberlibel complaint reached the courts without his client receiving notice of the charge.
The 72-year-old Lustre, author of the book “Kill, Kill, Kill,” about the bloody drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested at Dapo Restaurant while attending the Saturday News Forum hosted by fellow journalists.
Dino de Leon, a lawyer and a guest at the forum, was asked to be Lustre’s legal counsel.
The cyberlibel complaint was filed by lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte.
”The prosecutor’s resolution sets out the complainant’s version. Where is Philip’s version? There is none — precisely because he never received the complaint and was never given a chance to respond,” de Leon said.
”Produce the records. Did they really intend to accord ‘Ka Ipe’ (Lustre’s moniker) a meaningful opportunity to defend himself?” de Leon added.
De Leon said he and his fellow lawyers, who were assisting Lustre, questioned the way the lawmen presented the arrest warrant issued by a Davao City trial court judge.
De Leon said reports that Davao City Prosecutor Jhopee Salvador Avanceña is a first cousin of Honeylet Avanceña, the longtime partner of former president Duterte, should be verified. He noted that National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag cited the same issue when he sought the inhibition of the Davao prosecutor’s office from handling libel and cyberlibel complaints filed against him by Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte.
De Leon said the absence of Lustre’s response to the charge should have prompted the prosecutors to determine whether he had been properly notified.
”Is the Davao City prosecution service being used to pursue justice, or is it being weaponized to silence a critic of the Duterte family? The DOJ must investigate and answer that question,” he said.
De Leon questioned why Lustre was handcuffed while Vice President Duterte, who faces the more serious charge of grave threats, was not subjected to the same restraint.
”Did he resist? Did he attempt to escape? Did he threaten anyone? We are demanding equal treatment and respect regardless of your position or status. No official should be treated as untouchable. No journalist should be treated as an easy target,” de Leon said.
