2 face libel raps for Facebook post

CEBU, Philippines - Two men are facing libel charges before the court for allegedly maligning the reputation of their deceased relative online.

The complainant, Mario Visitacion, said he discovered on March 5, 2014 that respondent Dean Dosado posted on Facebook a letter addressed to Visitacion’s father, Jaime Visitacion Sr., which alleged that the latter took away land that belonged to the parents of Dean’s uncle, Ambrosio Dosado, also a respondent in the case.

Ambrosio is the letter’s signatory.

“You were also wrong for claiming more than 30% of the total land area of the Bagatayam Electric Company and most flagrantly claiming 10,000+ square meters in your last attempt in 2009. That will not be successful either,” the letter reads.

“I am very disappointed in you for your conduct. It is very difficult for me to recall pleasant memories of you now. Still, I wish you better health,” the letter reads further.

Several people, most of whom are Jaime’s relatives, reportedly saw the Facebook post.

In his defense, Dean said the complaint should have been dismissed because Mario filed it only on July 3, 2014 or more than a year after the letter was posted on the group “Botoy-Bebang Dosado Clan” on February 7, 2013. This means the one-year prescription period has lapsed.

But prosecutor Leah Cruz said the letter was posted on February 7, 2014, not on February 7, 2013, as Dean argued.

“Had the post been made on February 7, 2013, the date “2013” should have appeared alongside the month and day, as it usually does when it is posted in a year which is different from the current or present year, which is 2014. Whether the reckoning period be the date of publication (February 7, 2014), or the date of discovery (March 5, 2014), the one-year prescription has not elapsed when this case was filed sometime July 2014,” Cruz’ resolution reads.

While he questioned the date, Dean reportedly never denied posting the letter.

“There is malicious imputation of an act or acts, which in this case is the taking away or claiming of land which is not his. The malicious imputation, which was made in public through the Internet and the application Facebook, caused to blacken the memory of Jaime as well as dishonor to his family,” Cruz said.

Cruz recommended a P10,000 bail each to Dean and Ambrosio for their temporary liberty.  (FREEMAN)