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Rodolfo Vasquez vs Court of Appeals

RODOLFO R. VASQUEZ, petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS, THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MANILA, BRANCH 40, and THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondents.

G.R. No. 118971 | 1999-09-15

D E C I S I O N

MENDOZA, J.:
 
The question for determination in this case is the liability for libel of a citizen who denounces a barangay official for misconduct in office. The Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 40, found petitioner guilty and fined him P1,000.00 on the ground that petitioner failed to prove the truth of the charges and that he was "motivated by vengeance in uttering the defamatory statement." On appeal, the Court of Appeals, in a decision1 [Per Associate Justice Celia Lipana-Reyes and concurred in by Associate Justices Asaali S. Isnani and Corona Ibay-Somera.] dated February 1, 1995, affirmed. Hence,...