Former commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Commission on Elections filed a supplemental motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman on Monday, February 5.
The Ombudsman earlier approved graft charges versus Gunazon, who is from Negros Occidental, for alleged premature disclosure of information about the disqualification cases of then-Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In her supplemental motion, Guanzon said she cited good faith and public interest.
Guanzon cited the Supreme Court ruling in ABS-CBN Corp. vs. Ampatuan Jr. that states that “Freedoms of speech and of the press are the most contentious liberties. These freedoms are guaranteed to keep the power surrendered to government in check, and these freedoms are powerful weapons of accountability. Thus, freedoms of speech and press are (liberties] to discuss publicly and truthfully any matter of public interest without censorship or punishment to keep public debates uninhibited, robust, and wide-open”.*