Woman faces libel charge over post

A WOMAN was charged with a criminal case by the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office after she allegedly maligned a relative on the social networking site Facebook.

Prosecutor Floralil Lucero-Albert said there was sufficient evidence to charge Ruth Castro with libel.

“The malicious intent of the respondent (Castro) is explicit as viewed from the context of the messages. Moreover, malicious intent is legally presumed libelous from the libelous imputation,” said Albert in her resolution.

Bail was set at P10,000.

Last year, Castro posted a message on Facebook, accusing complainant Mila (not her real name) of having an affair with another man.

“…She is a teacher and… she is the one who committed a sin. I am one of the witnesses of her relationships with other men,” she said.

Text message

Mila, in her affidavit, said Castro had 355 friends as of last Jan. 25.

“With the intention to cause dishonor, discredit, contempt and ridicule on my person, (Castro) wrote, composed, printed and published on her Facebook wall a highly defamatory article,” she said.

Castro also allegedly sent a text message that accused Mila of immorality.

“A lot of people saw Mila kissing (other man). It could not be denied because there are a lot of witnesses of her dirty deed,” she said.

Albert said all the elements of libel are present in the case like accusation of a discreditable act or condition, publication of the accusation, defamation of the identity of the person and the existence of malice.