Controversial doc slaps newsman with P1M libel suit
For supposed sleepless nights in late September till November of last year, purported wounded feelings and alleged besmirched reputation, at least P1million in damages is sought from broadcaster Rhoderick "Rhod" Tecson.
Tecson is special projects director of RMN dyRI Iloilo and anchorman of the station's morning commentary program "Straight to the Point."
Named respondent in four counts of Libel, Tecson's complainant is controversial businesswoman-doctor Evangeline Johnson of Saviour International Hospital (SIH).
In a six-paged Affidavit-Complaint obtained by The News Today (TNT), Johnson blasted Tecson for what she termed were "series of malicious and derogatory commentaries." The Libel suit stemmed from the government's health insurance program dubbed "PhilHealth" that was then rocked by a multi-million cataract-scam.
Johnson was dragged into the fray following a PhilHealth in-house investigation that named her hospital in Bacolod City and practicing eye specialists here as "suspects."
Tecson was among the local journalists who carried the issue that apparently got the ire of Johnson.
The crime of Libel was committed, she said in her Affidavit-Complaint, after Tecson allegedly subjected her to "public contempt and ridicule as he humiliated me without let-up…"
And she deserves at least P1 million for her sufferings "considering my situation in the business community and the community at large.."
Particular reference was made on September 29th program of Tecson where Johnson decried what she said was comparison made to her with Lucifer "a devil, a fallen angel."
And Tecson, she further alleged, "craftily alluded " to her as involved in the scam.
"Mr. Tecson likewise maliciously insinuated that through an intermediary, I attempted to bribe him in order to stop his derogatory remarks…," the complaint continued. No further details was provided in said assertion however Tecson and colleague, Novie Guazo both made public an invite made by a woman regional director of a government agency. The invite was for a dinner at the height of the issue that Tecson and Guazo said ended with an offer for money placed inside an envelope.
To this day, no public disclosure was made on the supposed intermediary.
Other supposed statements deemed by Johnson as libelous were reference made by Tecson on her as a woman with various identities. Tecson, she said, called her several names or last names for that matter.
"These four broadcast-commentaries of Mr.Tecson all in all, maliciously imputed to me the commission of some criminal acts of conspiring with the named doctors in defrauding the patients and the government," she said, "imputed to me the crime of using several identities to cover the alleged crimes of fraud… when in truth and in fact he did not know the truth about my civil status… and picturing me before as a woman of loose moral by taking several husbands."
Tecson when asked for comment told TNT that he welcomed the charges while adding how such are "normal risks involved in this profession. We have to respect her rights just as I trust that she will respect mine."
Johnson is aided by lawyer Cornelio Panes and associates while among Tecson's counsel is lawyer Edeljulio Romero. TNT further learned that noted Ilonggo criminal lawyer Guillermo "Boy" Alcantara has offered services as collaborating counsel for Tecson.