Vina Morales charged with cyber libel

MANILA, Philippines — Actress-singer Vina Morales was charged with cyber libel by her former partner Cedric Lee before the Caloocan regional trial court (RTC).

The cases for two counts of online libel was assigned to RTC Branch 123 Presiding Judge Remigio Escalada Jr., who found probable cause and issued an arrest warrant.

Morales, whose real name is Sharon Magdayao, was charged with two counts of cyberlibel for her alleged defamatory remarks about Lee during interviews with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) and Pinoy Scoop.

Lee claimed that Morales made alleged defamatory remarks carried over in two videos uploaded on YouTube supposedly about their dispute over their daughter Ceana on June 17, 2016.

The couple has been suing each other in court over a spat involving their daughter since they split up.

Morales has sued Lee for allegedly detaining their daughter, an allegation Lee has denied.

Lee earlier vowed to file libel complaints against Morales.

Lee also faces serious illegal detention and grave coercion cases with model Deniece Cornejo at the Taguig RTC for their alleged role in beating up and extorting money from television host and actor Vhong Navarro in 2014.

Lee in 2015 was also charged before the Sandiganbayan for malversation and graft with former Mariveles mayor Angel Peliglorio over a failed implementation of a public market in Bataan in 2005.