Standing up for Free Speech
September 24, 2008Last week i.PH received two demand letters asking us to take down one of our blogs because it allegedly had libelous content. The companies claiming libel, Stratvisions Inc. and Versomina Inc., threatened legal action against us if we failed to take the site down.
The two demand letters can be seen here:
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
Whether they tried to contact the blogger directly to request that the posts be deleted is unclear. But we refuse to take down the blog for a very simple reason — we respect the principle of free speech.
We believe that blogs serve an important purpose in allowing people a venue for expressing their thoughts, ideas and opinions. In the past you had to own a newspaper, radio or TV station to get yourself heard. This has changed with the advent of the free marketplace of ideas that we know as the Internet We find the threat of legal action against us (and it’s accompanying legal costs) disturbing, to say the least. But whether or not we agree with what our bloggers have to say, one thing is clear — we respect their right to say it.In fact, i.ph domains are anonymous precisely to promote free speech and encourage people to speak out. Got a beef against your local politician? Blog about it. Know where all the MMDA speed traps are along EDSA? Warn other motorists by posting their locations. A restaurant served up a cockroach along with your fries? Upload a photo on to your blog.
Anonymity, and the opportunity to reach a wide audience, gives people a chance to air their truths without fear of harassment and let the public decide. Of course, we are well aware that we have certain responsibilities as a service provider. In this case, if the blog entries are proven to be libelous and there is a court ruling to that effect, we’ll take them down immediately.But until that happens, probably the best thing for all parties involved to do is to air their sides and let their ideas speak for themselves. Because when all is said and done, the truth shall set you free.
Previous Comments
May I quote you:
“Of course, we are well aware that we have certain responsibilities as a service provider. In this case, if the blog entries are proven to be libelous and there is a court ruling to that effect, we’ll take them down immediately.But until that happens, probably the best thing for all parties involved to do is to air their sides and let their ideas speak for themselves.”
Some of your bloggers are using materials that were already decided upon by the Court (if you don’t know which one, find out as a responsible service provider, like your claim you are).
Anonimity is a cloak of the slanderer.
The internet is a powerful tool of expression, but like you said, one must be responsible. In the name of free speech, would you allow me to post a nude photo of the president (or yours) for example?
Free speech must be coupled with objectivity and not with falsehoods and sensationalism. If you refuse to take down the requested blogs of Atty. San Juan, I might infer that you are in cahoots with your blogger to distribute lies and innuendoes.
Posted by Manong Jess at November 3, 2008, 5:15 pmAnonimity is a cloak of the slanderer.
-Then why didn’t you disclose your identity?
In the name of free speech, would you allow me to post a nude photo of the president (or yours) for example?
-you may do so, this is a free country. Just disclose who you are.
Free speech must be coupled with objectivity and not with falsehoods and sensationalism.
-easy for you to say because you were not aggrieved by this horrible company. You call it falsehood when all evidence shout to high heavens that this company is a philippine labor law violator and non-respecter of human rights.
Some of your bloggers are using materials that were already decided upon by the Court (if you don’t know which one, find out as a responsible service provider, like your claim you are).
-Obviously, you are not a lawyer.Just pretending to be one (smart ass).Lawyers know how to site exact jurisprudence to support what they are saying.
-Lastly, you don’t decide which statement is libelous and which one is not. Let the court decide on its own. But you really have to sue those who posted their comments before running after the service provider so it would not ound like you are just singling out i.ph.
Posted by Dax Castro at November 10, 2008, 4:04 pmThese comments are to old to respond but I want to inform everybody that Stratvision or Stratvisions.Inc is still open and victimizes every job applicants they hire.Government agencies especially in pasig are aware of it but just ignoring this issue since the company is just a small time.They don’t really understand the labor code regarding the employee side.They are only in favor to the employer because they can pay them.
To Manong Jess, your statements are very stupid to me.Are you a frustrated lawyer or pretending to be lawyer?If you are a victim of this demonic company, would you write your real identity and tell everything about the company?I don’t think you can do it.Every person is afraid of revealing their true identity in the internet because it might be used in online theft, hacking and it might also be used in threatening their lives.
I.PH did the right thing that the blog Alimuom didn’t shut down. Closing the blog will let the owner Joel Estrada Aquino including his minions Virgilio Ventura Jr., Dave Aquino, Mich Aquino spread the evil.This is the only way to tell the truth to everybody and to warn every job applicants especially fresh graduates.
Don’t count on justice in this country. To claim justice, you must have the wealth to pay the authority.
Posted by roger at February 9, 2010, 9:22 amanother victim here.
trying to investigate everything specially those who are sending the subpoena (subpoena with misspelled words, correction papers and using unusual font style).
i asked for original copy of the subpoena in pasig MTC but they said they dont have one. they even said that they will just ‘dry seal’the copy i have - which is’, in fact, just a ‘photocopy’…suspicious eh?
is reynaldo san juan a legal lawyer?
your responses will be very much appreciated. thanks a lot!
Posted by querty at February 9, 2010, 11:45 pm
stratvision just got closed down
Posted by cic triple advantage at October 29, 2008, 2:30 pm