Mandaluyong prosecutors have recommended the formal charging of a cyberlibel case against a social media personality who hurled several invectives thru Facebook against Benguet Cong. Eric Go Yap.
In a four – page resolution by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong, it recommended the filing of cyberlibel under section 4(c) paragraph 4 of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The case stemmed from a Facebook post alleging Yap has benefited from the overpriced infrastructure projects and accumulated wealth and secured prime properties in just a few years.
Respondent’s Facebook post was accompanied by photos and hyperlink to news article which, according to her, served as the source of her commentary.
Yap however denied the allegations and that the statement contains malicious insinuation that he committed criminal acts in connection with his performance as the Congressman of Benguet.
The Office of the City Prosecutor meanwhile said all the elements of cyberlibel were present in the case adding that the post contains implication that Yap may have benefitted from overpriced infrastructure projects, thereby suggesting criminal or illegal conduct.
According to senior assistant city prosecutor Queruben Garcia, respondent’s Facebook post constitutes a malicious act of defamation, as it intentionally disseminates false and damaging statements intended to tarnish complainant’s reputation, subjecting complainant to significant emotional distress and public shaming, thereby infringing upon his legal rights to his good name and reputation.
Yap, in an earlier statement said while he respects freedom of speech, the spread of baseless and damaging allegations must be addressed through legal means and stressed the continuous online attacks have not only tarnished his reputation but also misled the public with false accusations.
The solon also sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify other social media pages that have been spreading similar malicious statements or allegedly engaging in cyberlibel in an effort to discredit him. NLMonitor