Berger couple to sue Google

CEBU, Philippines - Karen and Sven Erik Berger, the couple earlier cleared in the abduction and killing of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, plan to take on the popular search engine Google.

Their counsel Glen Villariza said his clients are upset because whenever they enter their names in a search, the search engine produces entries with suggestions such as “child abductor” or “child killer.”

He said he is set to file a case for libel with damages before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against Google Philippines next week.

The Bergers also plan to file a case against the international edition of the search engine in Norway.

It was last February 8, 2011 when Pique was kidnapped while she was in her way home from the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town.

The following day she was found dead in Barili town, a suspected victim of cybersex operations.

On February 12, 2011 the Berger couple was apprehended at the Mactan Cebu International Airport after they resembled the cartographic sketch of the suspects on a notice posted inside the airport.

The two were on their way to Hong Kong to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The couple was detained at the Cebu Provincial Police Office for 16 days pending the resolution of the complaint. The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office later dismissed the complaint for lack of probable cause.

With the dismissal, Villariza filed a motion to amend the resolution of the complaint to cite couple as innocent and that it was not mere lack of probable cause that cleared their name.

However, the prosecutor’s office denied the motion citing the word “innocent” used by the court and not by their office. – (FREEMAN)