Jan-Jan’s parents file libel cases vs child abuse complainants

Lawyers of the family of six-year-old Jan Jan Suan have filed on Wednesday, April 13, libel cases before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office against bloggers John Silva and Froilan Grate and Dr. Lourdes Carandang "and other John and Jane Does," who sent complaint letters to government agencies over allegations of child abuse against the "Willing Willie" contestant.

John Pineda, counsel for Jan-Jan's parents, Joe and Diana Suan, said his clients do not believe abuse was committed to their child. He said they don't want Jan-Jan to be used in the "agenda of other people."

Carandang sent letters to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and the Commission on Human Rights alleging that Willie is a child abuser and Jan-Jan is an "abused child."

This triggered a CHR hearing on Tuesday, April 12, that Willie's lawyer, Leonard de Vera, described as a "sham" due to what he claimed as "bias" to Carandang's letter.

Pineda said Jan-Jan's parents were saddened by the premature conclusion of Carandang. He said they don't believe it's possible for the doctor to make conclusions without seeing Jan-Jan.

John Silva is the blogger who called Willie and TV5 executives "pedophiles." TV5 has separate plans to file a libel case against Silva.

Grate, on the other hand, sent letters of complaint on the alleged abuse to the MTRCB, CHR, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Senator Pia Cayetano, and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA), among others.

According to De Vera, Willie is still contemplating to file separate libel cases against Carandang.