High Court: Saying "Puwet mo!" not defamatory

[A]s to the remark made by petitioner to his co-teacher (Paulino Orito), in answer to the plea that Jamilano should have first reported the incident to the Academy Trustees — "board of trustees, puwit nila" — the anatomical expletive does not appear to have been made with deliberate intent to denigrate the Trustees, but as an expression, in the heat of pique or chagrin of a belief that the affair was not within the jurisdiction of the trustees.

The anatomical expletive of petitioner’s remark to his co-teacher — "board of trustees, puwit nila," — upon being told that he should have first reported the incident to the board, does not appear to have been made with deliberate intent to denigrate the Trustees, but an expression in the heat of pique or chagrin, of a belief that the affair was not within the jurisdiction of the Trustees. (G.R. No. L-26059; October 31, 1969)