A returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) was convicted for cyber libel filed by actor and Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez in May 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Corazon Vergara-Naraja sentenced Julius Bactol Tahanlangit to serve an indeterminate prison term of six months and one day of prision correcional as minimum to five years, five months and 11 days as maximum for bashing then Ormoc City Mayor Gomez for his alleged sluggish response and lack of a genuine heart to help on May 26, 2020.The accused reportedly bashed Gomez after the city government was unable to fetch them as soon as they arrived at the Daniel Z.
Gomez starred in Palibhasa Lalake , a Philippine sitcom on the now defunct ABS-CBN from March 3, 1987 to Nov. 9, 1998 directed by Johnny Manahan. In her decision, Naraja said that Tahanlangit’s first two posts “were made in the valid exercise” of his constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression.
The judge said: “The Court finds that the accused was motivated by actual malice in posting the defamatory statements on Facebook because said statements were no longer relevant to his supposed purpose of seeking the help of LGU-Ormoc City.
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