Push Admin

Inquirer defers publishing columnist's stories pending probe after Sotto takedown request

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/06/23/rodel-rodis-sottpo-composite.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Inquirer columnist Rodel Rodis and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Composite/ From Rodis&#x27; Facebook page and ABS-CBN News File</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - News website Inquirer.net said Saturday it would &quot;defer&quot; publishing pieces written by US-based columnist Rodel Rodis as it investigates his articles linking Senate President Vicente Sotto III to the rape and death of &#x27;80s star Pepsi Paloma.In a statement, the site&#x27;s management said a probe is underway on the articles titled “The rape of Pepsi Paloma” and “Was Pepsi Paloma murdered?” both written by Rodis and published in March 2014.&quot;Management has asked Rodis to substantiate his allegations in his two articles,&quot; it said.The statement comes after Rodis bared copies of Sotto&#x27;s letter asking the website, the online platform of leading broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, to take down his articles linking the lawmaker to the rape and death of Paloma.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/16/18/sotto-asks-inquirer-to-take-down-stories-on-pepsi-paloma-rape-slay">Sotto asks Inquirer to take down stories on Pepsi Paloma rape, slay</a></li></ul>Sotto explained that the articles had a &quot;malicious imputation of a crime&quot; against him.&quot;These kinds of unverified articles have been negatively affecting my reputation for the longest time,&quot; Sotto said in his letter.Inquirer.net confirmed that Sotto did make such a request.Rodis, in a Facebook post last week, argued that if Inquirer heeds Sotto&#x27;s request, it would set a dangerous precedent.&quot;If the Inquirer agrees to his requests, a dangerous precedent will be set. Sotto is cyberbullying the Inquirer,&quot; he said.

MANILA - News website Inquirer.net said Saturday it would "defer" publishing pieces written by US-based columnist Rodel Rodis as it investigates his articles linking Senate President Vicente Sotto III to the rape and death of '80s star Pepsi Paloma.

MANILA - News website Inquirer.net said Saturday it would "defer" publishing pieces written by US-based columnist Rodel Rodis as it investigates his articles linking Senate President Vicente Sotto III to the rape and death of '80s star Pepsi Paloma.