FILIPINAS BROADCASTING NETWORK INC vs.

AGO MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER-BICOL

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

FACTS: Expose is a radio documentary program hosted by Rima and Alegre. Expose is aired every
morning over DZRC-AM which is owned by Filipinas Broadcasting Network , Inc. (FBNI). Expose is heard
over Legazpi City , the Albay Municipalities and other Bicol Areas.

In the morning of 14 and 15 December 1989, Rima and Allegre exposed various alleged complaints from
students, teachers and parents against Ago Medical and Educational Center-Bicol Christian College of
Medicine (‘AMEC”) and its administrators . Claiming that the broadcast were defamatory , AMEC and
Angelita Ago , as Dean of AMEC’s college of Medicine , filed a complaint for damages against FBNI , Rima
and Alegre on February 27, 1990.

FBNI contends that AMEC is not entitled to moral damages, because, unlike a natural person , it cannot
experience physical suffering or such sentiments or wounded feelings, serious anxiety, mental anguish
or moral shock.

ISSUE: Whether AMEC is entitled to moral damages.

RULING: YES. AMEC’s claim for moral damages falls under item 7 of Article 2219 of the Civil Code. This
provision expressly authorizes the recovery of moral damages in cases of libel, slander or any other form
of defamation. Article 2219 (7) does not qualify whether a person is a natural or juridical person.
Therefore a juridical person such as a corporation can validly complain for libel or any other form of
defamation and claim for moral damages.