Party-list Representative Ty sued for libel

Rep. Arnel Ty. Photo from www.congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty and three others are now facing charges before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly malicious articles warning the public not to buy China-made liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks being sold by a dealer.

Also slapped with the P10-million libel suit were two reporter and an editor of two tabloids.

The complainant, Arlene Requilme, is owner of Worthy Marketing who claimed her business suffered from Ty’s claims published in the July 12 issues of the two tabloids.

Requilme filed her case through lawyer Nelson Borja.

Ty, whose sectoral group LPGMA represents LPG marketeers, was quoted as saying that Shine Gaz, sold by the complainant’s firm, was imported to the country without a clearance from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The warning came after an explosion caused by a leak from a Shine Gaz tank in Paco, Manila, which injured 15 persons.

Requilme said the articles were from a press release dated July 11, sent to reporters covering the House of Representatives.

“Contrary to the baseless and unfounded imputation of respondent Ty, our LPG cylinders named Shine Gaz have passed for household use and were issued the corresponding clearance by the DTI,” part of the affidavit read.