http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/aug/22/top_stories/20030822top4.html
Friday, August 22, 2003
‘Dating Daan’ and ‘Tamang
Daan’ swap libel charges
By Ronnie E. Calumpita, Correspondent
Not satisfied with accusing each other on television, the leaders of two warring religious groups, Bayan ng Katotohanan Inc. (BNKI), which hosts the popular religious program Ang Dating Daan, and the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) have brought their long-time dispute to court.
The BNKI presiding minister, Eliseo Soriano, turned the tables on the INC officials, headed by their executive minister Eraño Manalo, when he sued the INC for libel on Thursday for allegedly maligning him.
Besides Manalo, the executive producer of Ang Tamang Daan, the hosts themselves were also included in the charges: Bros. Michael Sandoval and Leopoldo Guevarra; Edgardo Villanueva and Arturo de Guzman, president and general manager of New Era Television 25, also owned by the INC, and Sonny Henson and Linnie Dinopol, president and vice president of Southern Broadcasting Network 21, where the program is televised.
In his complaint Soriano said he was supposed to bring charges as early as March or April, but was advised by his counsel, former senator Rene Saguisag, not to do so, because it is improper for a churchman to be involved in litigation that may confuse, demoralize or dishearten the faithful.
But having had enough of its rival’s criticism on television, the INC filed two counts of libel charges against Soriano in May.
The INC said Soriano accused its officials and members of thievery and killing on his program. He alleged that members of the INC threatened his life, trailing him several times.
Soriano said he enjoys “absolute freedom” from censorship as a servant of God under the Constitution.
Although he has stopped criticizing the INC, he said it has not stopped defaming him on its Ang Tamang Daan program, aired over NET 25 and SBN 21.
This prompted him to file countercharges of libel against Manalo, Sandoval, Guevarra and several others for continuously airing statements that discredit him as a person and as a churchman.
Besides calling him
“hid-hid, ganid, dayukdok, gutom linta, matakaw sa pera, nuknukan ng kapaimbabawan, mangungurakot, mangongotong at mangho-hostage” on television, Soriano said the respondents also ridiculed BNKI’s projects like fundraising as allegedly being beset with anomalies.
He wants the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office to consolidate his complaint with the two counts of libel filed by the INC for “administrative symmetry and economy.”
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/aug/22/top_stories/20030822top4.html