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Belen vs. People [DISSENTING OPINION LEONEN, J.]

MEDEL ARNALDO B. BELEN, PETITIONER, VS. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENT.

G.R. No. 211120 | 2017-02-13

DISSENTING OPINION

LEONEN, J.:

Medel Arnaldo B. Belen has indeed made callous, acerbic, and intemperate comments through his motions before the prosecutor. His comments betray a lack of empathy for another human being. They also reveal his sense of undeserved superiority, which is as empty as it is comical.

However, in my view, he cannot be criminally liable for libel.

In his Omnibus Motion (for Reconsideration & Disqualify)[1] filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of San Pablo City in an estafa case,[2] Medel Arnaldo B. Belen (Belen) stated:
 
In the instant case, however, the investigating Fiscal was not impartial...