Davao City prosecutor junks Dennis Uy’s online libel case vs GMA News Online

The Office of the City Prosecutor in Davao City dismissed for lack of probable cause the online libel complaint against GMA News Online reporter Ted Cordero along with Editor-in-Chief Jaemark Tordecilla and GMA New Media, Inc. President and COO Dennis Caharian.

The complainant, Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, filed an online libel case for the GMA News Online article with the headline, “Cusi, Dennis Uy, others face graft charges over ‘anomalous’ Malampaya takeover” which was published in October 2021.

Uy claimed that the subject article is libelous and alleged that he did not violate Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In the joint resolution signed by City Prosecutor Jhopee S. Avanceña dated May 5, 2022, it was found that the said news article was not defamatory and that “when viewed in its entirety and plain meaning, the article does not impute a finding that impeaches the virtue, credit, and reputation of complainant Uy.”

The resolution further stated, “Notably, the subject article shows that respondent Ted Cordero merely presented a fair and true report by quoting certain publicly available documents and information from the graft complaint filed against the complainant. The article is bereft of any personal comments or remarks made by the writer himself out from the said publicly available information.” —GMA Network