Cyber libel ni Bea, kinontra ni Ogie!

Nagsumite na ng counter-affidavit si Ogie Diaz kaugnay ng cyber libel complaint na inihain sa kanya ni Bea Alonzo noong nakaraang buwan.

Kasama ang kanyang abogadong si Atty. Regie Tongol at dalawang co-hosts sa Showbiz Update Live online show nila na sina Loi Villarama (Mama Loi) at Wrena Lualhati, humarap si Ogie sa investigating prosecutor na si Edward Seijo kahapon ng umaga (June 18) para magsumite ng kanilang statements.

Sa panayam ni MJ Felipe ng ABS-CBN, ibinahagi ni Atty. To­ngol ang ilan sa mga nakasaad sa isinumite niyang sworn statements.

“Prescribed na ‘yung posting na nilagay nila sa complaint affidavit nila. November 2022 pa, one year lang kasi ang prescriptive period ng cyber libel,” pahayag ni Atty. Tongol.

“Ang pangalawa naming sinabi namin doon na wala namang sinabi ‘yung client namin na si Ogie Diaz at ‘yung mga co-hosts, o kung may sinabi man ‘yung mga co-hosts niya, ito ay nakapaloob pa rin sa fair comment doctrine na pinprotektahan ng ating Korte Suprema about matters of public interest katulad na lang ng buhay at trabahong ginagawa ng complainant,” dagdag pa ng abogado.

Bukod dito ay nag-file rin sila ng “affirmative defense on improper venue.”

“We filed an affirmative defense of improper venue. Alam naman natin na since 2022, sinabi na ni Bea na she’s a legal resident ng Spain.

“Kaya naman kung sasabihin niya na siya’y legal resident na ng Spain, then hindi na siya sa Quezon City actually nagre-reside,” ani Tongol.

Dahil dito ay nag-file ng counter-charge si Mama Loi laban kay Bea ng kasong perjury.

“Dahil sinabi niya ‘yun, nag-file din si Loi Villarama ng counter charge na perjury, kasi obvious na obivous na nagsisinunga­ling siya sa kanyang complaint affidavit na sinabi niya na dito siya naka-reside sa Quezon City,” paliwanag ng legal counsel nina Ogie and company.

Inaasahang maghahain ang kampo ni Bea ng reply-affidavit sa loob ng dalawang linggo.

Narito naman ang bahagi ng statement ng kampo ni Ogie na ipinost ni Atty. Tongol sa kanyang Facebook account:

“Under our laws ‘fair commentaries on matters of public interest are privileged and constitute a valid defense in an action for libel or slander’ because democracy would be meaningless without free discussion of public affairs, even at the cost of a few bruised egos.

“Other bloggers, writers, journalists and our clients should not be cowered by the filing of cases just to suppress the freedom of expression and of the press by public figures who are too onion-skinned.

“Our clients will fight this case with courage because they have no malicious intent and the thirty million pesos (P30,000,000.00) damages being asked by Ms. Bea Alonzo in her complaint is not only unjustified and unreasonable but is also exorbitant.

“We are also ready to file other counter charges against Ms. Alonzo for malicious prosecution and damages for this suppression of our client’s freedom of the press and expression in due time.”