Tomás de Jesús Mangual

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Tomás de Jesús Mangual (October 5, 1944–October 31, 2011)[1] was a Puerto Rican investigative reporter who worked for El Vocero, a well-known newspaper in Puerto Rico.[2][3]

Career[edit]

Mangual served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. Joined El Vocero, a well-known Puerto Rican newspaper, during the 1970s. While he was not the only reporter covering crime stories for El Vocero, his name was the most recognizable. His trademark was the usage of Puerto Rican slang terms, such as Corrió como alma que lleva al Diablo (The person ran like a soul possessed by the Devil). Another one of his stories began with "A well-aimed stab to the heart..."[4] His writing style earned him awards, but also criticism.

Criminal libel laws of Puerto Rico lawsuit[edit]

For many years, Mangual investigated crimes committed by politicians and police officers and was told he would be sued for libel by those he was investigating. In response, in 2003 Mangual became party to a lawsuit that said Puerto Rico's criminal libel laws were against Freedom of the Press. The lawsuit resulted in the criminal libel laws of Puerto Rico being struck down for being unconstitutional.[5][6][7]

Mangual died in Mayaguez and is interred at the Las Mercedes Cemetery in Ponce, Puerto Rico.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Fallece veterano periodista Tomás de Jesús Mangual". El Nuevo Dia. 31 October 2011.
  2. ^ George B. Delta; Jeffrey H. Matsuura (2002). Law of the Internet. Austin: Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. pp. 8.14–3–8.14–4. ISBN 978-0-7355-2219-0. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Federal appeals court strikes down Puerto Rico's criminal libel law". Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  4. ^ Ramírez, Rafael (1999). What it Means to be a Man: Reflections on Puerto Rican Masculinity. Rutgers University Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-8135-2661-4. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Federal appeals court strikes down Puerto Rico's criminal libel law". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Tomas De Jesus-mangual and Jorge L. Medina, Plaintiffs, Appellants, v. Anabelle Rodriguez, Secretary of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Defendant, Appellee, 383 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2004)". Justia Law. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. ^ Matsuura, D. (2017). Law of the Internet, 4th Edition. Law of the Internet. Wolters Kluwer. p. 14-PA43. ISBN 978-1-4548-7869-8. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Fallece veterano periodista Tomás de Jesús Mangual". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 31 October 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2019.