Politics · Philippines Bureau
Journalist Lustre seeks transfer of cyberlibel case from Davao
Veteran journalist Philip Lustre has filed a motion to move his cyberlibel case to Metro Manila, citing safety concerns in Davao City where the case is currently being heard.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA, Philippines — Journalist Philip Lustre is pursuing a change of venue for the cyberlibel case filed against him by Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, seeking to have the proceedings transferred from Davao City to the capital region.
Lustre's legal counsel, Dino De Leon, disclosed the motion on Wednesday, pointing to safety as the primary reason for the request to move the case out of Davao. The filing represents an attempt to distance the high-profile legal dispute from the Vice President's political stronghold in Mindanao.
The cyberlibel case has drawn attention given the prominence of both parties involved and the contentious nature of the allegations. Lustre's legal team maintains that relocating the case to Metro Manila would provide a more neutral venue for judicial proceedings.
The motion marks the latest development in the legal dispute between the journalist and Carpio, whose relationship to the Vice President has added a political dimension to the case. The outcome of the venue request could significantly influence the trajectory of the cyberlibel proceedings.