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United States vs. Felipe Bustos 37 Phil 731

THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. FELIPE BUSTOS ET AL., defendants-appellants.

G.R. No. L-12592 | 1918-03-08

D E C I S I O N

MALCOLM, J .:

This appeal presents the specific question of whether or not the defendants and appellants are guilty of a libel of Roman Punsalan, justice of the peace of Macabebe and Masantol, Province of Pampanga. The appeal also submits the larger question of the attitude which the judiciary should take in interpreting and enforcing the Libel Law in connection with the basic prerogatives of freedom of speech and press, and of assembly and petition. For a better understanding, the facts in the present appeal are first narrated in the order of their occurrence, then certain suggestive aspects relative to the rights of freedom...