As reported earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the libel suit filed by actor Richard Gutierrez against PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) due to "lack of probable cause." (Click here to read related story.)

The DOJ resolution, written by Acting Makati City Prosecutor Mary Jane W. Sytat, dated 30 June 2009, was received by PEP's legal counsel, Atty. Sandra Marie Olaso-Coronel of Yorac Arroyo Chua Caedo & Coronel Law Firm, at 9:10 a.m. today, July 9, 2009.

The DOJ Resolution reads in full:

"For resolution is the complaint filed by Richard R. Gutierrez against respondent Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, Karen A. Pagsolingan and Ferdinand "Bong" Godinez for violation of Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code [libel].

"Complainant Richard Gutierrez alleges that he is a show business personality currently playing the lead role in GMA 7's teleserye "Zorro," and that he is also a commercial endorser of various products such as Bench, Emperador Brandy, Flawless, Globe Telecoms, Metathione and Unique Toothpaste, to name a few.

"Respondents Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, Karen A. Pagsolingan and Ferdinand "Bong" Godinez are the editor-in-chief, managing editor and staff writer of' the website Philippine Entertainment Portal (www.pep.ph or  "PEP" for brevity), respectively. www.pep.ph is an interactive website that features the latest news and events in Philippine show business. It caters to readers who are interested to know what is happening in show business and its readers want to be continuously updated about the latest news involving celebrities.

"On March 28, 2009, at or about 9:30 pm, complainant attended the birthday party of Direk Mark Reyes at the Oceana Restaurant, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City, together with his twin brother, Raymond R. Gutierrez and Bubbles Paraiso. This party was attended by other show business personalities, including the cast of "Zorro," namely: Joel Torre, Epy Quizon, Leo Martinez, Michelle Madrigal, and former mainstays of the show "TGIS," namely: Bobby Andrews, Dingdong Dantes and Michael Flores.

"On March 29, 2009, at or about 2:00 am, complainant, along with his "Zorro" co-stars left the party and proceeded to his residence in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. In the afternoon of the same day, complainant learned through his mother, Ms. Anabelle Rama-Gutierrez, that an article about an alleged incident in the parking lot of the Oceana Restaurant was uploaded and published on www.pep.ph involving him and Michael Flores. The article reads, and thereinafter quoted:

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) received reports alleging that Zorro star, Richard Gutierrez, and former TGIS mainstay, Michael Flores, got into a heated altercation at around midnight, March 29, at the parking lot of the Oceana restaurant located at the Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City.

The two actors were reportedly on their way home after attending the 40^th birthday party of director Mark Reyes.

Sources claim that the squabble was marred with heated words being exchanged by both parties and a gun-toting incident. It was still unclear, however, whether the gun belongs to Richard or Michael. Epy Quizon, son of Comedy King, Dolphy, was also reportedly involved in the fracas.

PEP—who caught sight of Richard leaving the event together with Bubbles Paraiso and Michelle Madrigal—at press time, is still investigating the said incident."

"On March 30, 2009, PEP, through respondent Maglipon, published or uploaded a letter on their website admitting the publication of the story. Complainant vehemently denies being involved in the so-called "heated altercation," "squabble," "gun-toting incident," or "fracas" with Michael Flores, or with anyone during the party, or at anytime between March 28 to 29, 2009. Such article is a complete falsehood, a mere fabrication and only a product of respondent's imagination. Through the article, respondents made it appear that complainant is a troublemaker, a very discreditable condition considering his stature as a primetime actor and product endorser. PEP or respondents divulged his identity; and the publication of the discreditable article was attended with malice. Having known him and his family, PEP or respondents, could have easily verified the story, but they did not. In fact, it was complainant's mother who informed respondent Maglipon about the false and malicious article; hence, this complaint for libel.

"Complainant presented affidavits of witnesses Pilar Angela D. Paraiso, a.k.a. Bubbles Paraiso, Marciano Arcega Reyes, a.k.a. Direk Mark Reyes, and Michael John M. Flores, a.k.a. Michael Flores, to support his averments particularly the non-­existence of the alleged "heated altercation," "squabble," "gun-toting incident," or "fracas" with Michael Flores.

"Respondent Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, in her counter-affidavit, avers that she is the editor-in-chief of www.pep.ph or PEP. She vehemently denies any involvement, role or participation in the alleged publication complained as she is neither connected nor affiliated with the website www.celebritypulp.com where the questioned article was purportedly published; therefore, she cannot be held liable for the questioned article appearing thereat. She contends that by virtue of complainant's being a movie and television personality cum multi-product endorser, complainant is undeniably a public figure, i.e. someone who has himself actively solicited the adulation of the public and consequently arrived, at a position where public attention is focused on him as a person. Even complainant's mother refers to him as the "number one contract star" of GMA, one of the biggest media network in the country. Undoubtedly, complainant is a celebrity—a public figure. Public figures are deemed to have lost, to some extent, their right to privacy. Movie and television celebrities, such as complainant, enjoy less privacy than private citizens mainly because they themselves sought publicity and consented to it. Thus, showbiz should not be allowed to complain when they in fact receive the publicity they solicited because being such celebrities, their personalities, affairs, acts and conduct become matters of public interest and could no longer be regarded as their private business. Further, members of the press have a protected right under the Constitution, to inform the public about developments involving those celebrities, who have become legitimate matters of public interest. The reported altercation or exchange of heated words and gun-toting incident of celebrities is a matter of public interest, a story of particular fascination to the readers of www.pep.ph. It is a matter proper subject of media reportage.