G.R. No. 213023 - Guy vs. Tulfo

On March 24, 2004, Raffy T. Tulfo published in Abante Tonite an article entitled “Malinis ba talaga o naglilinis-linisan lang (Sino si Finance Sec. Juanita Amatong?)” alleging that Michael C. Guy, under RIPS investigation for tax fraud, sought help from former Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong.
The article claimed, based on an unnamed “A-1 source,” that Secretary Amatong instructed the head of the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) to surrender all documents on Guy’s case to her office.

Guy filed a Complaint-Affidavit for libel against Tulfo and seven representatives of Monica Publishing Corporation (Macasaet et al.) before the Makati City Prosecutor.
After a preliminary investigation, an Amended Information charged them with libel; at arraignment, a not-guilty plea was entered by court order.
On February 24, 2010, the RTC convicted Tulfo and Macasaet et al., sentencing each to a ₱6,000 fine (with subsidiary imprisonment) and joint and several liability for ₱5,000,000 actual damages, ₱5,000,000 moral damages, and ₱211,200 attorney’s fees.

On August 30, 2013, the Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction, reduced moral damages to ₱500,000, and awarded exemplary damages of ₱500,000.
In its June 13, 2014 Amended Decision, the CA deleted the awards of actual and exemplary damages, affirming only ₱500,000 moral damages and ₱211,200 attorney’s fees.
On August 26, 2014, Guy filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari before the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement of the ₱5,000,000 actual damages, ₱5,000,000 moral damages, and exemplary damages. Respondents filed comments (Tulfo) or manifested no opposition (Macasaet et al.), and Guy filed a reply.