MANILA, Philippines -- A Makati City court on Thursday found journalist and newspaper publisher Ninez Cacho Olivares guilty of libel for writing a column accusing a law firm of influence peddling in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA3) deal.

And the Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angcanco Law Firm (also known as The Firm) says it is pursuing 47 more libel suits -- each case for one article -- it has filed against the publisher of The Daily Tribune.

"We want to hold her accountable for these 47 malicious articles. It’s not just about the money," said lawyer Miguel Silos.

Olivares was sentenced to a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 2 years by Judge Winlove Dumayas of Regional Trial Court Branch 59. She was also ordered to pay P5 million in moral damages and P33,732.25 in civil damages.

Aside from these fines, Olivares was also ordered to pay a libel fine of P4,000.

Olivares however maintained that the court did not prove any malice in her articles.

Judge Winlove Dumayas of Regional Trial Court Branch 59 sentenced Olivares, publisher of The Daily Tribune, to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years imprisonment.

"It’s clearly an injustice. What was written there was not libel," Olivares said defiantly, albeit a bit teary-eyed.

Her lawyer Alexis Medina said they will appeal the Makati court's decision by filing a motion for reconsideration and exhaust all legal remedies.

Olivares, for now, may enjoy freedom as the court allowed her provisional liberty granted she posts bail.

Medina asked for the provisional liberty of Olivares pending the filing of the appeal on the verdict.

The usual bail recommended for libel is P10,000, but Dumayas has yet to specify the increased amount for Olivares's continued freedom.

The case was filed in 2003 by stemmed from Olivares’ June 23, 2003 column in which she claimed collusion between then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and the law firm on a complaint filed by its client against the winning bidder for the construction of the NAIA 3.