Statement published by the Inquirer apologising to Malacanang spokesperson Salvador Panelo:
Inquirer.net apologizes for reporting on its social media platform that Secretary Salvador Panelo wrote a letter to BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang recommending executive clemency for ex-Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez. Inquirer.net posted Secretary Panelo’s clarification upon receipt of his statement on the matter. The updated reports stated that he merely referred the request of Sanchez’s family to Bayang.
Recall that the Inquirer, along with “social news network” Rappler was threatened with libel raps following allegations that they had misled their readership by “reporting” that Panelo had “recommended” presidential clemency be extended to convicted murderer and rapist Antonio Sanchez.
All eyes are now on Rappler now that the Inquirer had acceded to a demand earlier issued by Panelo to apologise or suffer the consequences.
He cited an Inquirer.net breaking news tweet that used the word “recommending,” and a Rappler article which used the word “endorsed” in its headline in reference to his action on the Sanchez family’s letter.
“It is for this reason that I will be filing libel cases against the reporters of Inquirer.net and Rappler, Inc. should they fail to comply with my demand for a public apology and rectification,” he said in a statement.
This follows a story earlier published on Get Real Pundit citing Inquirer staff writer Marlon Ramos for also using the word “recommend” in a tweet on the same subject.
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