Search for justice! QC PROSECUTORS INDICT BLOGGER FOR CYBER LIBEL

By Manny Piñol

A Luzon-based newsman who also writes blogs on Facebook was indicted by the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office for Cyber Libel following his accusations that I made P21-M from the Bird Flu which hit Central Luzon poultry raisers last year.

Quezon City Chief Prosecutor Donald Lee issued a resolution which established prima facie evidence for Cyber Libel against Frank Cimatu and set the bail at P16,000 for his temporary freedom.

The charges stemmed from a Facebook post made by Cimatu last year accusing me of amassing P21-M in six months as Agriculture Secretary and insinuating that I earned it during the Bird Flu outbreak.

Since the case has already been lodged with the Court, I will no longer discuss the merits of the case and leave the judgement to the Judge who will hear my complaint.

In filing the case, however, I wanted to emphasize a point that while government officials like me should welcome and accept criticisms, we should not be maligned through malicious and baseless accusations.

Just like everybody else, we also have families – children, grandchildren and loved ones – who will be hurt and affected by the accusations.

#SeeYourInCourt!

(Images show Cimatu’s post and pages of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office resolution indicting him for Cyber Libel.)