Cristy Fermin and Ogie Diaz Are Facing Cyber Libel Filed by Bea Alonzo
BEA ALONZO – The actress has filed three separate criminal cases for cyber libel at the Quezon City Prosecutors Office against showbiz columnists and online hosts Cristy Fermin and Ogie Diaz, along with their co-hosts in their respective online programs.
The Kapuso actress also included in her complaint an online basher who pretended to be close to her. According to Bea’s complaint affidavit, she became a victim of false, malicious, and defamatory information spread by this individual and irresponsibly discussed on the online shows of Fermin and Diaz without any basis.
This includes a series of alleged defamations against Bea in their columns and shows, one of which includes accusations of her not paying the correct taxes. Bea was accompanied by her lawyer, Atty. Joey Garcia, and her manager, Shirley Kuan, at the filing.
Cristy Fermin and Ogie Diaz have yet to issue any statement regarding the charges filed against them by Bea Alonzo.
Meanwhile, cyber libel is a modern form of defamation executed through digital platforms such as social media, blogs, and other online media. It involves publishing false, defamatory statements about a person with the intention to harm their reputation. The key elements of cyber libel include the publication of defamatory content that is accessible to others, identifiable information about the victim, false statements that damage the victim’s reputation, and intent or negligence on the part of the publisher.
The legal treatment of cyber libel varies by jurisdiction, but it is often considered a criminal offense, potentially leading to fines or imprisonment. Challenges in addressing cyber libel include the anonymity of the perpetrators, rapid dissemination of false information, and jurisdictional complexities due to the global nature of the internet.
Victims can seek legal remedies such as financial compensation, retractions, removal of content, and injunctions to prevent further defamation. As technology evolves, so does the legal landscape around cyber libel, making it a continually developing area of law with significant implications for online conduct and freedom of expression.