Bullying, public shaming, and mockery of PM Narendra Modi and Doc PenPen that 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮–𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, including threats and intimidation such as “Susunugin 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘊𝘊𝘈 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨 𝘴𝘪 𝘋𝘰𝘤 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘗𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭,” stated in a manner that apparently compromises the integrity of the National Artist Selection Process, given that they and two among the jurors belong to the same literary organizations.
RISING ABOVE THESE REPEATED THREATS, INTIMIDATIONS, AND ASSAULTS
Despite these repeated assaults—bullying, character assassination, public shaming, mockery, discrediting, and the systematic demeaning of his numerous local and international recognitions and the respect he has earned as the “Father and King of Visual Poetry” from prestigious institutions such as the National Library of the Philippines, high-ranking world universities, top-tier libraries, and esteemed poetry organizations like Writers International (WIN) Canada, Cyprus-Balkans-Eurasia Turkish Literature Institute (KIBATEK), Pablo Neruda Foundation, and WORLD POETREE INDIA, to name a few—Doc PenPen rises above hostility and retaliation.
Instead, Doc PenPen appeals to his fellow Filipino poets, artists, detractors, and even those literary cabals who attacked, threatened, and intimidated him to set aside animosity and ego, and to unite in a higher cause: to work together in making 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗬 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗.
In response to posts by individuals like Jerry B. Gracio and the article authored by Nikko Miguel Garcia, which maliciously targets Dr. Epitacio “Doc PenPen” Tongohan and seeks to undermine, ridicule, and delegitimize his documented international honors and recognitions—including those conferred in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during the largest and most significant poetry event in India—an event unsurpassed to this day.
The article in question is not a mere opinion nor legitimate literary criticism. It constitutes a deliberate act of cyber libel, employing insinuation, ridicule, and false implications to destroy reputation, diminish state-recognized honors, and cast doubt on verifiable historical facts.
It is an undisputed and fully documented fact that:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally graced the event and publicly honored Doc PenPen as “King of Visual Poetry.”
Photographs, official programs, eyewitness accounts, international tributes, citations, and archival records conclusively establish the authenticity of this recognition.
These events and honors were globally chronicled, praised by Indian poets and international literary communities, and remain on public record. The author himself acknowledges the existence of these records, yet deliberately deploys language such as “allegedly” to cast doubt where none exists. The use of “allegedly” in reference to documented, verifiable events involving a sitting Head of Government is not journalism—it is reckless misrepresentation.
The article repeatedly goes beyond literary evaluation and instead:
- Imputes dishonesty, suggesting that recognitions were manufactured or exaggerated.
- Accuses Doc PenPen of deception, “artificial amplification,” and fabrication of consensus—claims unsupported by evidence.
- Mocks and trivializes state and international honors, implying they are meaningless or imaginary.
- Employs ridicule and derision (“castle in the sky,” “imaginary kingdom”) to poison public perception.
- These are attacks on character, integrity, and reputation, not on poetry.
This pattern satisfies the legal threshold of actual malice:
Knowledge of falsity, or
Reckless disregard for the truth.
Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to distort facts, malign reputations, or mock documented state and international honors. History is neither rewritten by sneer, nor erased by irony—and never by sarcasm.
(Nexus News, Views & Features)
