Keng filed 2nd cyber libel complaint vs. Maria Ressa 4 months before verdict

Businessman Wilfredo Keng had filed a second cyber libel complaint against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa four months before a court found her guilty in connection with the first.

In a complaint filed with the Makati prosecutor's office on Feb. 13, Keng accused Ressa of cyber libel over a tweet she posted on Feb. 15, 2019 or two days after she was arrested over the first case the businessman initiated against her.

Ressa had tweeted screenshots of a 2002 Philippine Star article in which Keng was linked to the killing of a former Manila councilor. The article also said Keng was accused of other illegal activities.

Rappled cited this Philippine Star article in its 2012 story on vehicles allegedly used by former chief justice Renato Corona. Rappler also referenced an "intelligence report" in saying Keng was under surveillance for "human trafficking and drug smuggling."

Ressa and the story's author, former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr., were sentenced to up to six years in prison over a 2014 "republication" of the 2012 story. A Manila judge handed down the verdict this week.

In his second complaint, Keng said the Philippine Star story which Ressa had posted screenshots of "maliciously imputes to my person the commission of various heinous crimes, without offering any justifiable motive for the false allegation."

"Another cursory comparison of the two articles will also show that they have the same purpose: that of destroying my reputation," Keng said.

Philstar.com took down the 2002 story from its website in February last year "after the camp of Mr. Wilfredo Keng raised the possibility of legal action."

The businessman cited the takedown in his complaint.

"While the Philippine Star took the prudence of removing the libelous article, the respondent (Ressa) made sure that it will be read by her 350,000 followers and anybody else who has access to the internet," he said.

He claimed that his lawyer sent Rappler in 2016 a "letter" from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency "showing that I have no derogatory record."

Rappler Investigative Head Chay Hofileña said during the trial that they first had to verify the PDEA certification, according to the court's decision.

Critics of the court ruling that convicted Ressa and Santos said it will have a chilling effect on the press.

Ressa's lawyer, former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te, said Keng's second complaint is in the preliminary investigation stage. He said they are waiting for the date they have to submit a counter-affidavit. —NB, GMA News