Raymart: YES! was wrong

Author: Jocelyn Dimaculangan

RAYMART Santiago was the first witness in last week's initial hearing of the civil suit filed by his wife, Claudine Barretto, against YES! magazine editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon.

Santiago stated that YES! had erred in publishing photographs of their home, which was under construction at the time the photos were taken, in its September 22, 2002 issue because the magazine did not secure their permission.

In a television interview after the hearing, Atty. Sandra Coronel, Maglipon's counsel, said the publication of the photos taken of the Santiago home was covered by the Constitutional right of press freedom.

"We maintain our position that being a celebrity, the feature of their home in the magazine is covered by press freedom," explains Atty. Coronel.

Barretto and her counsel, Atty. Raymund Fortun, were present during Santiago's testimony inside the sala of Judge Ramon Cruz, Branch 223 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Representing Maglipon were Coronel and Atty. Ellen Veza.

Coronel is scheduled to cross-examine Santiago on November 8.

Barretto filed suit against Maglipon last year over the publication of behind-the-scenes pictures of the defunct ABS-CBN fantasy series Marina, in which she was the lead star, photographs of the couple's house under construction, and the offering ceremony of Sabina, their adopted daughter. She said the photos were unauthorized and had invaded their privacy.

The movie and television actress had released media statements charging the YES! editor-in-chief as an "unfair and irresponsible journalist" and a "human rights violator" while announcing the damage suit in press interviews. Her statements became the basis of several libel suits filed in seven separate courts by Maglipon against the ABS-CBN contract star the same year, saying that Barretto besmirched her reputation as a professional journalist for the past 30 years and a human rights advocate.

Earlier this month, the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office decided in favor of Maglipon and recommended the filing of three counts of libel against Barretto over her statements, which were published in People's Journal and People's Tonight, and aired over GMA-7's 24 Oras newscast in July 2005.

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal