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By Sam Mediavilla and Francis
Earl A. Cueto, Reporters
Malacañang on Sunday warned the
country’s two biggest television networks they could be dragged
into a legal battle if the Palace decides to sue the Genuine
Opposition for allegedly libelous TV political advertisements.
Secretary Sergio Apostol, chief
presidential legal counsel, reminded ABS-CBN and GMA 7 “they have
a responsibility” to the public for what they air.
GO had prepared four TV ads that
highlight corruption and other issues against the Arroyo
administration.
ABS-CBN reportedly accepted the
ad on corruption but only after GO made some changes to it.
GMA 7 rejected the corruption ad
completely, but accepted the other three materials.
“Under libel law, they shoulder
the responsibilities for what they air,” Apostol said of the
networks.
But he added that the networks
already knew the consequences. “We will just monitor them. If we
find basis to file any charges, that’s the time that we will act
accordingly,” Apostol said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo
Ermita said the government’s election lawyers were reviewing
GO’s television ads.
GO on Sunday belittled Malacañang’s
threat of libel against GO personalities and the two networks.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña, GO campaign
manager, noted that all of the issues raised in the ads were factual
and based on newspaper headlines.
Osmeña said President Arroyo was
simply afraid of the truth about her administration.
Adel Tamano, spokesperson for GO,
said the basis for the ads were public knowledge.
“The truth hurts, hence the
typical reaction of the administration to abuse libel laws to stifle
free and democratic speech,” he said.
GO’s lawyers found nothing
libelous in the ads.
Tamano confirmed that GMA 7
rejected the ad on corruption.
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