Michael Sy Lim. PHOTO FROM FASHION PULIS’ INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
Entertainment blogger Michael Sy Lim, also known as Fashion Pulis, on Tuesday defended himself from the P11-million libel case filed against him by celebrity stylist Liz Uy.
In a statement posted on his blog and social media accounts, Lim said, “It is sad that a public figure such as Liz Uy decides to file a case against me. Her feelings of being wronged by my post [were] based on a common truthful observation about her body of work relative to Maine Mendoza of AlDub which many people other than me also pointed out.”
Uy filed cases of online libel and grave slander against Lim on Monday after the blogger posted on his blog that Uy made Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza wear a “recycled” Francis Libiran gown during the show’s “Tamang Panahon” event at the Philippine Arena. He also posted an entry that accused Uy of making Mendoza sport a jacket the former has already worn during a shoot for a magazine cover.
READ: Celebrity stylist Liz Uy files P11M libel case vs Fashion Pulis blogger | AlDub fallout: From ratings wars to gown wars
“I hope he checks his information first before writing about it,” Uy was quoted as saying during the filing of chargers.
“The posts and accusations of Lim were untrue, malicious, irresponsible and made in bad faith. They were meant to cast aspersion upon Ms. Uy, erode her credibility as a fashion stylist and paint her as an incompetent fashion stylist for Maine,” Lorna Kapunan, Uy’s lawyer, also said.
Lim said that journalists and bloggers like him should not be intimidated by threats to their freedom of expression.
“Other bloggers, writers, journalists and I should not be cowered by the filing of cases just to suppress the freedom to express and of the press,” Lim’s statement read.
He also vowed to fight the case, while mulling the possibility of countersuing Uy.
“I will fight this case with courage because I have no malicious intent. My lawyer is also studying the filing of counter charges for malicious prosecution and damages for this suppression of our freedom of the press and expression,” he said.
This was not the first time that Lim was sued for libel. In August, he was arrested for the complaint filed by Deniece Cornejo over his publication of a medical report that alleges that controversial model has a sexually transmitted disease. He was freed on bail. With a report from Maricar B. Brizula, Philippine Daily Inquirer/IDL
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