Raffling of libel case vs actress, manager set

CEBU, Philippines - The libel suit filed against actress Neri Naig Miranda and ABS-CBN Star Magic road manager Danilyn Nunga for allegedly falsely accusing a Cebu City resident and his friend on a social media account is set to be raffled to a judge next week.

The criminal division of the Regional Trial Court has scheduled the raffling of the case this Monday.

Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Ruso Zaragoza has found probable cause to indict Miranda and Nunga for allegedly posting malicious posts on their Instagram accounts accusing Clarence Taguiam and Donna Marie Go as bogus sellers of a Go Pro Hero3 Action Camera.

Taguiam, a resident of Cebu City, sued Miranda and Nunga for libel in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Last April 30, Miranda and Nunga allegedly posted a photo of Taguiam and his friend Go, tagging them as “bogus, fictitious and fraudulent” sellers of the camera.

In her post, Nunga allegedly shared that she failed to get the camera she bought from the complainant and Go despite paying them in full P7,500. Miranda also allegedly posted the same defamatory posts on her Instagram account.

Taguiam, however, denied selling a camera. Through his legal counsel, Taguiam sent a letter to Miranda and Nunga asking them to remove their alleged defamatory posts, clear their names, and issue a public apology.

The letter was mailed to ABS-CBN Corp. at Sgt. Esguerra Avenue corner Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City where the two are currently connected.

Miranda immediately removed the alleged post in response to the letter; however, it reportedly took Nunga some time to do the same.

The two also did not post any statement to clear the names of Taguiam and Go nor issued a public apology on their Instagram accounts or in any newspaper.

Miranda and Nunga failed to submit their counter-affidavits despite being summoned; hence Zaragoza filed the libel case in court last Wednesday.  (FREEMAN)