Since the Brian Gorrell blog has emerged a couple weeks ago, I tried to steer away from it because of its libelous nature. Obviously, tens of thousands of people are visiting this Australian guy’s blog about his Filipino ex-lover and the $70,000 money the latter owed him that it has gotten him much attention from the press. This evening, we taped the panel discussion at ANC’s Media in Focus discussing the social and legal ramifications of this phenomenon.
Anybody who’s been following his blog knows the scandalous posts and pictures will only attract libel suits. Lawyer’s of the parties involved have made their moves so far, though nothing concrete has been done. Google, the owner of Blogger.com where the BlogSpot blog is being hosted, has been sent a letter of request to take down the blog as well (not sure if it’s a C&D though).
What other bloggers who have been religiously covering this issue is that they might be also accountable about the spread of such libelous acts and can be held liable in Philippine courts. That’s according to Atty. JJ Disini who was also one of the resource speakers of ANC. Even JV Rufino, EIC of Inquirer.net, said he made sure all their articles (9 so far and counting) steer clear of identifying names, linking or publishing URLs.
Here’s what bloggers might be doing that could get them into trouble if they’re covering the issue.
- Publicly mentioning names of people being exposed in the blog.
- Posting pictures of the people being named by Brian Gorrell in his blog.
- Publishing the URL of the blog or linking to the blog.
- Quoting a libelous sentence on the blog or re-publishing/summarizing allegations thereof.
The personalities and families of the people being exposed in the blog are desperate to end this and looks like they’re doing everything they can to stop people from talking about it and they will include bloggers too.
Watch Media in Focus on ANC this Thursday to learn more about this issue. We tried real hard not to name names or mention the blog. The only name we can really talk about in the segment was Brian Gorrell himself.
Updated: To those who are unfamiliar with my previous battles with libel cases in the Philippines, please refer to this, this and this. In fact, I still have another one right now in Civil Court.
Please read them first so you’ll know where I’m coming from and how ridiculous our system is.
[tags]brian gorell, brian gorrell blog blogger[/tags]
Have you seen this?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LMXeVhxHNFQ
somebody tape it and upload to youtube!
Talk about shooting the messenger. Abe just reported what some third party lawyers (albeit invited by a Lopez-owned company) are saying in a panel discussion and people are then attacking Abe and his income? Tsk, tsk, tsk.
you praise malu fernandez for speaking her mind regardless yet you see this blogger in another light. how come? justice for BrianG!
What a shame is people actually believe Brian Gorrell and his scandalous blog and indulging themselves with an overdose of crab mentality. There’s no objectivity anymore!
Yuga, you’re not doing your assignment!
Entry posted on March 12 by Yuga.
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I’m amused with people who speak their mind and exercise their freedom of speech whether or not they’re correct, morally upright, or just plain misguided. At least, they stand and own up to their words.
In the case of Malu Fernandez’s recent article in Manila Standard {via Connie}, I think because of her previous experience with the alleged “internet mob”, she knows controversy can draw a lot of traffic.
You have to give it to her. She knows this piece with get tons of flak. What’s a single article in exchange for hundreds of raw back links and millions of page views? ShoeMoney and Jason Calacanis became top bloggers and master link baiters because of their controversial stance on sensitive issues.
And, for an online commercial publication like the Manila Standard, that traffic can be converted to ad revenues.
So, as early as now, I’d like to nominate Malu Fernandez as the 2008 Master Link Baiter. Let’s see how much raw links and page views MST will draw in after all these pans out. Besides, her previous scorching encounters didn’t leave her with 3rd-degree burns — she’s still writing for the newspaper, right?
And I’m even beginning to think she’s secretly doing freelance SEO for the publication.
——————————
By the way, who called you “YUGA” or self-proclaim YUGA of the Philippine Blogosphere? NO CREDIBILITY! AD REVENUE MATTERS!
I read about this guy from a newspaper both national and international. He has really gained fame out of his blog. Even the giant international TV networks got interested with his story. Anyway, one thing that made me interested about this story is the involvement of his Filipino boyfriend. Pinoy nanaman ang co-star sa istoryang ito.
Thanks for dropping by at my blog, or somebody else did, made me aware of this situation.
I blogged about this topic because I saw it on the news last night on ABS CBN TV Patrol.
If the bloggers who just posted links pointing to the blog and describing Gorrell’s work be penalized then it is unfair. What are they gonna do then to ABS CBN who broadcast it last night to the whole nation and to the rest of the international community?
Also, can u please check my post about this if it is legally liable or not.. Thanks here is the link:
http://istaylsugbo.blogspot.com/2008/04/scam-exposed-by-blogging-brian-garrell.html
[...] was used in the comments of Brian’s blog. The blogger pretended to be me and started cursing Yuga. Nice try, your IP number won’t match mine because you are not based in the [...]
How disappointing to hear it from you yuga Y_Y
you steer away from REAL ISSUES and posts all these irrelevant stuffs that wouldn’t and couldn’t help in shaping our society in a better way. All of your contents are just probably some copy-paste from REAL WRITERS that I don’t even imagine you being able to afford any of these stuffs that you write.
You chose silence because you don’t care, you don’t care for our country and for our people. But when it comes to politics e bakit hinde ka rin umiiwas? Good luck on your writings about all these gadgets that continues to evolves while trashing our planet and sucking out all of its resources.
Thanks for this post it is really a valuable reminder to every bloggers
can you send the email blog of brian for me?
Whilst I welcome any attempt to highlight the small mindedness of ‘high society’ evidence suggests that Brian Gorrell doesn’t fall far from the tree. See my thoughts at
http://polly-rage.blogspot.com
[...] they said you can get sued for linking to a libelous blog, some people do really mean it. I was just informed that a website I’m [...]
And Gloria says the Philippines is now a 2nd world country….blah
oh come on, this is the Philippines, and if i were Pres. Gloria, i would have sued all the media entities in this country, if i will have to go through the Celine Lopez, DJ Montano terror tactics..they will go after people who all wrote about them?stupid no brainer really. These will just earn them more BAD publicity and more people will believe what Brian gorell has wrote…before suing anyone, why not sue Brian Gorell instead, if they are really really keen on clearing their names.
suing bloggers by blogging about the issue? no brainer again. It’s like infringing freedom of the press and of expression, which the courts also uphold in great respect. by blogging they just report what another have said. It’s like shooting the Messenger!stupid socialites and social climbers talaga oo..magiisip isip kayo at baka lalong maniwala ang tao sa inyo na nabobo na kayo ng cocaine…
im inviting everyone out there to share any info you know about this.Mr. Gorrell has cross the line already,and a group of concerned Filipinos are not taking this lightly.
I KNEW IT!Brian is posting comments as anonymous on his blog!I saw something like
from BRIAN:
“brian were here to support you ,boracay people loves you” next to brian’s picture tapos nag blip yung picture 9 ulit yung comment instead of 10.bwhahaha!!!huli ka Brian!
HAHAHA!!!Mr. Gorrell,natataranta na sa dami ng nagagalit sa panlalait nya sa tao ayan tuloy nakalimutan muna mag log out sa account nya bago mag post nga comment sa sarili nyang blog!
anyway,there are other Filipinos who are skeptical about him,me included,there are so many loopholes in his stiry and he has now shown his true color by ranting against Filipinos and everything about the Philippines,by the way,please visit this site so you can see what i am talking about,a lot of stuff out there about brian is posted there,we are actually conducting background check on gorrell.
see :http://themeanstreak.blogspot.com/
He he. I see there is a person called ‘Lola’ spreading misinformation on this blog. I caught ‘her’ (maybe DJ’s mother) spreading nonsense, and you can follow her nonsense on this other blog – http://simplymanila.blogspot.com/2008/03/memoirs-of-brian-gorrell.html. It starts with my comments (by Andrew Sheldon). Looks like Lola is going to be leaving the country real soon as she runs from one country to the next. Read what I said that really pissed her off at http://polly-rage.blogspot.com.
Bring it on Lola. Lola, Looola, oh oh, Lola, oh, oh, oh, Looola. He He.
Author: Lulu
Comment:
im inviting everyone out there to share any info you know about this.Mr. Gorrell has cross the line already,and a group of concerned Filipinos are not taking this lightly.
I KNEW IT!Brian is posting comments as anonymous on his blog!I saw something like
from BRIAN:
“brian were here to support you ,boracay people loves you” next to brian’s picture tapos nag blip yung picture 9 ulit yung comment instead of 10.bwhahaha!!!huli ka Brian!
HAHAHA!!!Mr. Gorrell,natataranta na sa dami ng nagagalit sa panlalait nya sa tao ayan tuloy nakalimutan muna mag log out sa account nya bago mag post nga comment sa sarili nyang blog!
anyway,there are other Filipinos who are skeptical about him,me included,there are so many loopholes in his stiry and he has now shown his true color by ranting against Filipinos and everything about the Philippines,by the way,please visit this site so you can see what i am talking about,a lot of stuff out there about brian is posted there,we are actually conducting background check on gorrell.
I see ‘Lola’ is spreading the same nonsense she was spreading on other sites.
She is trying to imply that Brian is distorting information, but actually its Lola and her partners who are the ‘distortionists’. Appealing to Filipino ‘national pride’ (a contradiction in terma actually) with statements like “Mr. Gorrell has cross the line already,and a group of concerned Filipinos are not taking this lightly”.What these people are failing to address is the problems in the Philippines that Brian raises. They dont realise that this is bigger than Brian.
Lola saids “we are actually conducting background check on gorrell”. Well, it sounds like she is alligned with DJ’s lawyer.
will Jessica Soho’s be accountable too? it was featured last saturday in her show
Hey Mr. “All Filipinos are opportunistic i hate them but Im still staying in the Philippines because I make money here” look at this,Brian’s desperate attempt to cover up his comments on that slip about “Boracay people loving” comment,Brian obviously forgot to log of from his account.I told you!Di ba?I wasn’t making up a story to discredit him.And you have to face the reality that there are other people who are already disgusted with your friend Brian Gorrell.
Brian said…
Readers, I can’t cut and paste comments from e mails to this board.
Please don’t be afraid to leave a comment. js and hr.
My group on Bora…. this means you.
You can’t be traced if you use the internet shop at d mall. Please don’t worry.
Brian.x
April 28, 2008 7:31 PM
Yeh right Lulu… we know you are really DJ’s mother. Deluded women. Wake up to yourself spreading lies. You’re reputation suxs right now. How will you ever live..in shame
Hehehe!Sheldon,why dont you ask Mrs Aurora yourself or better yet ask yourself,you have a shameful life,you can easily figure out the answer to your own question.
THE GREAT ANDREW SHELDON SAID:
“A lot of them smile like I’m someone’s desert, like I’m someone’s ticket out of the country. I’m told they have a special respect for foreigners, but no. I think its more like relish. So I get the sense that they feel they have been dealt a bad hand by being born ‘Filipino’ and they relish the opportunity I present. If not as a boyfriend, then as a sponsor for a visa, a free 2nd hand computer, advise on immigration, a little generosity. Some are more tactful than others. Some are very patient.”
“So why do I suggest Filipinos are so bad? Well Filipinos are very affable people, very easy going, so very easy for some people to take into their confidence. It is afterall how they live their lives, ‘in each others pockets’. That’s how they live their lives.”
“5. Are Filipinos among the most scandalous people in the world. Actually I think so”
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM YOU GOT THERE MR. SHELDON.
I see your way of thinking is just enclosed on “Brian haters=definitely DJ and Co.”
Your views in life are narrow indeed.
Suit yourself Mr. Sheldon.
Pasensya na po Yuga,dito pa ako nag kakalat.Gusto ko kasi mga views mo kaya napadaan ako and left a comment.Kaso mo may isang austaliano dito na nagagalit sa akin,pasensya na po.
na caught as spam daw po yung reply ko.help po please?haba pa naman nun.thanks!
Lulu, i said all that, I also made it clear that I was referring to particular Filipinos, not all Filipinos. How dishonest of you to imply otherwise.
In the USA you probably have a 10x higher probably of being mugged by a black person. That does not mean that all blacks are intent on mugging you. Though how could I blame them.
The intent of the blog post is to identify the reasons why Filipinos have a higher propensity for delusion, crime, dishonest, in fact the values you are not conveying. That you for proving my point. See http://polly-rage.blogspot.com. You dont realise this but actually logic is based on generalisation and differentiation.
Lulu – you are an idiot.