The Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s ruling finding Eliseo “Eli” Soriano guilty of libel.
Eli Soriano’s motion to the Court of Appeals (CA) on his case. The Lower court’s findings has once again been affirmed finding Eliseo “Eli” Soriano, the Ang Dating Daan (ADD) head, guilty of libel in a case filed by a fellow preacher against him.
The appellate court’s 12th Division, Associate Justice Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, denied Eli Soriano’s motion for reconsideration (MR) which sought a reversal of the CA’s August 17, 2015 ruling in a seven-page resolution.
The Consolidated judgement dated June 8, 2012 of the Iriga City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 60, was hereby affirmed by the CA with regards to the Jesus Miracle Crusade preacher Wilde Almeda’s two criminal cases for libel filed against the Ang Dating Daan (ADD) head Eliseo “Eli” Soriano.
It is alleged in the complaint that Soriano uttered malicious or libelous comments and accusations on Almeda’s preaching over the radio in Iriga City and Baao, Camarines Sur.
The appellate court said that it “already made an exhausive discussion regarding the presence of all the elements of the crime of libel defined under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code.” The court of Appeals stated in the latest decision that, “We rule that the instant motion cannot prosper on said grounds as the same were mere reiterations of the arguments which were already contained in the various pleadings submitted before the court and were already considered in arriving at our decision dated August 17, 2015.”
On the other hand, Soriano could still appeal to the Supreme Court but has not yet made an announcement about it.