Jobert’s lawyer releases official statement
Nagbigay ng official statement ang de–kalibreng abogado na si Atty. Ferdinand Topacio tungkol sa kasong kinasasangkutan ng radio anchor, movie columnist at talent manager na si Jobert Sucaldito.
Nagsampa ang President at founder ng Cornerstone Entertainment Inc, na si Erickson Raymundo at singer na si Erik Santos ng 43 counts of cyber libel, 12 counts of grave threats, 1 count of slander, and 2 counts of libel sa Quezon City Trial Court laban kay Jobert.
Narito ang kabuuang official statement ng lawyer ni Jobert na si Atty. Topacio:
“The attempts of the camp of singer Erik Santos in silencing our client, Jobert Sucaldito — a legitimate and established entertainment journalist of long standing — first by lobbying for DZMM to suspend him, and thereafter by filing criminal charges and publicizing the same, are both appalling and alarming.
“But what is even more unnerving is the insistence of Mr. Santos that calling him “gay” is an imputation of a vice or defect. Unless he has been hiding under a rock for the past decade or so, Mr. Santos, being in the entertainment industry, should know better.
“’Gay” is no longer a pejorative term in these enlightened times, but merely a statement of sexual preference. By saying that “gay” is an insult, Erik Santos insults all the gay people not only in this country but all over the world. It is an unacceptable throwback to intolerant times and a million steps backwards for LGBT rights.
“Having made it a substantial part of his career to court publicity, Mr. Santos and his managers should not be heard to complain that some of that publicity is unfavorable. There is truth to the saying that if one cannot stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen. And verily, Mr. Santos cannot try to extinguish the fire because he will come out half-cooked.
“Jobert Sucaldito was only practicing his profession as he has been doing for most of his adult life. We will resist with the full force of the law every attempt to curtail his rights and prerogatives as a journalist and as citizen of the Philippines.”
