MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) A member of the Supreme Court has sued the editor of an online news agency for libel for an article alleging that the magistrate was involved in partisan politics.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco filed his complaint Friday before the Manila City Prosecutors' Office against Newsbreak editor Marites Danguilan Vitug.

Velasco, who was Supreme Court court administrator before he was appointed to the highest court of the land, accused Vitug of besmirching his and his family's reputation in her Newsbreak article, ?SC Justice in Partisan Politics? that was posted on the website of ABS-CBN.com for 13 days starting December 3, 2009.

He asked for P1 million in moral and exemplary damages.

In her article, Velasco allegedly agreed with the majority of the Supreme Court justices in allowing appointive officials to stay in their posts even after the filing of their candidacy to benefit his son Allan. Such decision, however, was reversed by the Supreme Court early this year and the reversal had become final and executory.

He said his son immediately resigned as provincial administrator when he filed his certificate of candidacy on Dec. 1, 2009.

The article also stated that Velasco allegedly invited one Marife Pastrana to attend a political meeting at his wife?s house in Marinduque. He also alleged offered Pastrana a councillorship slot in alliance with his son.

Velasco said he has not invited Ms. Pastrana in any meeting.

?I make it a point not to involve myself in any activity which may be perceived, even remotely, as a political to promote the candidacy of my son, relative or friend?Per my recollection of my brief encounter with Ms. Pastrana, I just inquired, out of curiosity, if she is running for councilor, noting that she is a newly elected barangay captain,? Velasco said adding that he never made any offer to shoulder her campaign expenses.

Vitug ?portrayed me as an unethical person without delicadeza who has wantonly violated the Code of Judicial Conduct and existing laws.?

?(Such) malicious imputations were plainly directed against me and had caused me, my wife and children especially (Marinduque congressional candidate) Allan irreparable dishonor, discredit and contempt,? he said.

He said Vitug wrongly portrayed him as having actively involved himself in his son's election bid against former Marinduque congressman Edmundo Reyes Jr., including having promised to shoulder the campaign expenses of at least two local officials if they ran under his son's ticket.

?This a lie, an absolute falsehood... I have inhibited myself from soliciting, directly or indirectly, support for Allan?s candidacy, aware as I am that such solicitation constitutes a prohibited partisan political activity,? said Velasco.

Velasco claimed that when he granted Vitug an interview on Dec. 22, 2009, she did not ask his side about the allegations made against him by the two local officials.

?Ms Vitug?s deportment is highly unethical and improper as, with ill-designs she tried to obtain information from me and yet did not give me the sporting opportunity to refute or explain the allegations which became the subject of her Dec. 3, 2009 article,? he said.

He went on to accuse Vitug of working with his son's political rival, former congressman Reyes to malign him.

?It is established jurisprudence that the enjoyment of a private reputation is as much a constitutional right as the possession of life, liberty or property... The law recognizes the value of such reputation and imposes upon him who attacks it by slanderous words or libelous publication, the liability to make a full compensation for the damages done,? Velasco said.