Adriano Miguel Tejada of Diario Libre writes today an editorial commenting on Judge Esther Agelan Casasnovas’ decision to acquit lawyer Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo from penal charges for violation of the freedom of expression law but at the same time rule that he pay a hefty compensation fee to former supervisor of public works of the Presidency Hernani Salazar, who had sued him. While he states that the ruling is judicially impeccable, it could lead to prior censorship by the press. He says that the decision lumps public figures and private figures together, when they should be given different treatment. In his opinion, the decision imposes a burden that could be unbearable for anyone other than the large media that can afford expensive libel insurance. In his opinion, the new Penal Procedures Code seeks that freedom prevail, and thus it should not be used to curtail freedom of expression. On the contrary, he states, what is needed are incisive media, which does not mean that they act insidiously or above the law, but that they be vigorous in their critiques, and that needs to be preserved.
Nevertheless, TV commentator and Listin Diario contributor, Cesar Medina feels that the ruling will strengthen the freedom of the press as it is a ruling in favor of the right that the media has to comment on actions and attitudes of public servers, a majority of whom, he says, consider themselves everyone’s superior once they are appointed to office.