Sunstar News: Facebook Post Results In Libel

[whisperer]

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Just wanted to get your opinion on this online news: <<O__o>>

Facebook post results in libel | Sun.Star

Facebook post results in libel
By Kevin A. Lagunda

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

FOR posting an open letter on his Facebook account accusing a call center company of practicing illegal recruitment, a man will face trial after the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal case against him in court.

Prosecutor Rhodna Alcala-Bacatan found evidence to charge Neil (real name withheld) with one count of libel.

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“After an evaluation of the evidence on record, this office finds the existence of all the elements of libel in this case,” said Bacatan in her resolution.

The company based in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City wanted Neil to pay them P2,500,000 for damages.

In his 48-paragraph counter-affidavit, Neil denied he committed libel. The bail is at P10,000.

According to the Revised Penal Code, the elements of libel are accusation of a discreditable act or condition to another, publication of the accusation, identity of the person defamed and existence of malice.

For Bacatan, Neil clearly stated that the company committed illegal recruitment in Facebook, a social networking site, through “deceit and deception.”

The prosecutor said the allegations are “obviously discreditable acts that may have discredited complainant.”

She was not persuaded by the respondent who argued in his counter-affidavit that there was no malice in his letter for he was telling the truth.

As to authenticity of Neil’s open letter, Bacatan said the scrutiny of the said electronic document should be left to the court.

Former employee

Neil, the company’s former employee, posted his accusation on Facebook last year.

“All these promises and false hopes that your people state during the training process can, in my view, be considered a form of illegal recruitment by way of making deceitful promises to the general public,” he said.

He said some of the employees who referred their friends and relatives to the company did not receive referral incentives and fees as promised.

Neil and two other persons eventually filed syndicated and large scale illegal recruitment and discrimination complaints against the company’s six officers and other unnamed persons.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 04, 2012.

[bitchybutsweet]

hopefully the truth will prevail, nowadays..if you have the money dali ra kaayo daugon ang case..

[hayden]

Through facebook post? Na-unsa naman tawon ni ang pilipinas wui 0_O

[mio]

Pastilan jud ning FB ui.

[bofox44]

Freedom of speech -- more fun in the Philippines..

[jack_bauer]

Through facebook post? Na-unsa naman tawon ni ang pilipinas wui 0_O

na unsa man diay ang Pilipinas bai.. ?

Be informed that libel suits due to facebook post are increasing.. not just here but all over the world..

so next time you post something, be sure it's clean as crystal clear..

[slakker]

ngano nag facebook... hehehe...

[hulagway]

tsk tsk tsk..experts nasad....kadaghan na biya sa mga tao nga KNOW IT ALL...tsk tsk tsk..Wikipedia ra di ang gibasihan..hahaha

[mio]

twitter na lang siguro ang arang2x ron kai wa pai na sakpan na mo abot ug in-ani basta naai isulti bati.

[7DMM]

Freedom of speech -- more fun in the Philippines..

you have freedom but you also have responsibilities.point is to be mindful of what you say, text or post.