Irrelevant statements inserted in PDI articles

This refers to the editorial titled: “New beginning.” (Inquirer, 1/2/12)

A statement that was totally uncalled for, even as it was completely baseless and irrelevant to the topic under discussion, was inserted toward the end of the editorial, maliciously imputing against me an act that constitutes a crime, thereby maligning my reputation. The statement read: “Moreover, logger Pepito Alvarez had been given the contract to supply water to the city while being allowed to log around the watershed.”

As you very well know, logging is now completely banned in the country, hence, any such activity constitutes a crime.

That illegal activity was again used to describe me in a Jan. 4, 2012 story titled “Mitra seeks recall of recall ruling,” and I quote: “the logging and business mogul Pepito Alvarez.”

In any case, I categorically and vehemently deny ever cutting a single tree in Mindanao, much less engaging in logging of whatever scale in the area. If supplying water is my business, which requires hundreds of millions of pesos in investment, does it not stand to reason that I should be the first one to protect the watershed, which is the lifeblood of such kind of business? Incidentally, contrary to the malicious insinuation that I was “given the contract to supply water to the city,” as if it was handed to me on a silver platter, the contract was won by my company in a transparent and competitive public bidding.

I will no longer speculate as to the writer’s motive in inserting such a libelous statement in the editorial. Suffice it to say that the statement, which obviously serves no legitimate purpose, was written in reckless disregard of whether it was false or not, and such malicious imputation of a crime against me has defamed me publicly.

I, therefore, demand a public rectification of this grievous wrong even as I reserve the right to avail myself of whatever legal remedies are available under the circumstances.

—JOSE CH. ALVAREZ,

5/F Pacific Star Bldg.,

Sen. Gil J. Puyat cor. Makati Avenue,

Makati City

The passage in the editorial was culled from observations by Cagayan de Oro flood victims themselves.—Ed.