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Filipinas Broadcasting Network Inc. vs. Ago Medical and Educational Center-Bicol

Christian College of Medicine (AMEC-BCCM !"# $%$&&%' $ )anuar* +,,

Facts/

"Exposé”  is a radio documentary program hosted by Carmelo ‘Mel’  Rima

(“Rima”) and Hermogenes ‘Jun’  Alegre (“Alegre”) Exposé is aired e!ery

morning o!er #RC$AM %hich is o%ned by &ilipinas 'roadcasting et%or* +nc(“&'+”)“Exposé” is heard o!er ,ega-pi City* the Albay municipalities and other 

'icol areas +n the morning o. /0 and /1 ecember /232* Rima and Alegre exposed

!arious alleged complaints .rom students* teachers and parents against Ago Medical and

Educational Center$'icol Christian College o. Medicine (“AMEC”) and itsadministrators

Claiming that the broadcasts %ere de.amatory* AMEC and Angelita Ago (“Ago”)*

as ean o. AMEC’

s College o. Medicine* .iled a complaint .or damages against &'+*Rima and Alegre on 45 &ebruary /226 7he complaint .urther alleged that AMEC is a

reputable learning institution 8ith the supposed exposés* &'+* Rima and Alegre

“transmitted malicious imputations* and as such* destroyed plainti..s’  (AMEC and

Ago) reputation”  AMEC and Ago included &'+ as de.endant .or allegedly .ailing to

exercise due diligence in the selection and super!ision o. its employees* particularlyRima and Alegre 9n /3 June /226* &'+* Rima and Alegre* through Atty Ro-il ,o-ares*

.iled an Ans%er alleging that the broadcasts against AMEC %ere .air and true &'+*

Rima and Alegre claimed that they %ere plainly impelled by a sense o. public duty to

report the“goings$on in AMEC* :%hich is; an institution imbued %ith public interest” 

7herea.ter* trial ensued uring the presentation o. the e!idence .or the de.ense* AttyEdmundo Cea* collaborating counsel o. Atty ,o-ares* .iled a Motion to ismiss on&'+’s behal. 7he trial court denied the motion to dismiss Conse) undergo an

apprenticeship and training program a.ter passing the inter!ie% &'+ lie%ise claimed

that it al%ays reminds its broadcasters to“obser!e truth* .airness and ob?ecti!ity in their 

 broadcasts and to re.rain .rom using libelous and indecent language”  Moreo!er* &'+re

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 participation %as %hen he agreed %ith Alegre’s exposé 7he trial court .ound Rima’s

statement %ithin the“ bounds o. .reedom o. speech* expression* and o. the press” 'oth

 parties* namely* &'+* Rima and Alegre* on one hand* and AMEC and Ago* on the other*appealed the decision to the Court o. Appeals

7he Court o. Appeals a..irmed the trial court’

s ?udgment %ith modi.ication 7heappellate court made Rima solidarily liable %ith &'+ and Alegre 7he appellate court

denied Ago’s claim .or damages and attorney’s .ees because the broadcasts %ere

directed against AMEC* and not against her &'+* Rima and Alegre .iled a motion .or reconsideration %hich the Court o. Appeals denied in its 4B January 4666 Resolution

Hence* &'+ .iled the petition .or re!ie%

Issue

8hether AMEC is entitled to moral damages

#uling/ 

A ?uridical person is generally not entitled to moral damages because* unlie a natural

 person* it cannot experience physical su..ering or such sentiments as %ounded .eelings*

serious anxiety* mental anguish or moral shoc

  7he Court o. Appeals cites Mambulao ,umber Co ! '* et al to ?usti.y the a%ard

o. moral damages Ho%e!er* the Court’s statement in Mambulao that“a corporation

may ha!e a good reputation %hich* i. besmirched* may also be a ground .or the a%ard o. moral damages” is an obiter dictum e!ertheless* AMEC’s claim .or moral damages

.alls under item 5 o. Article 44/2 o. the Ci!il Code 7his pro!ision expressly authori-es

the reco!ery o. moral damages in cases o. libel* slander or any other .orm o. de.amationArticle 44/2(5) does not 66*666 to /16*666