Prosecutors in Bangued, Abra—located more than 200 kilometers from Pangasinan—dismissed complaints of cyber libel and slander filed by a Pangasinan vlogger against an online broadcaster and a former barangay captain from Sto. Tomas, San Jacinto, Pangasinan.
In a joint resolution recommended by the Bangued Prosecution Office to its counterpart in Pangasinan, Prosecutors Camille S. De la Rosa and Jon Meynard P. Taverner dismissed the cyber libel and slander complaints filed by vlogger Jaime Gutierrez Aquino against respondents Ronald Allan Sison, and Ronald Allan Sison and Zandro de Guzman, the former barangay captain.
In dismissing both complaints, the prosecutors stated in their Joint Resolution: “Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, and based on the documents, witnesses, and other evidence presented, the undersigned find that there is no prima facie case with no reasonable certainty of conviction to charge Ronald Allan Sison and Zandro de Guzman for cyber libel and slander. Accordingly, the cases against them are DISMISSED.”
The prosecutors noted that the complainant did not submit any evidence or the affidavit of the person who recorded the allegedly defamatory statements. The absence of any proper proof of authenticity for the video recordings of the alleged statements from the respondents meant that the “evidence” lacked any evidentiary weight in this proceeding.
In his complaint-affidavit, Aquino claimed that during a live broadcast on Sison’s online channel, Sison made a libelous statement and at one pony quoted De Guzman.
However, records indicate that only Zandro de Guzman submitted a counter-affidavit denying the allegations against him. De Guzman stated that he had made a lawful statement in the performance of his official duties, asserting that there were no ghost projects in Barangay Sto. Tomas. He also clarified that he did not accuse, name, malign, or impute any crime, dishonor, or wrongdoing against the complainant.
This marks the third cyber libel complaint filed by Aquino against different respondents that has been dismissed by prosecutors due to a lack of prima facie evidence and no reasonable certainty of conviction.
Meanwhile, Aquino himself is facing complaints for cyber libel and unjust vexation filed by publicist Roman Baldovino at the Nueva Ecija Prosecution Office in Cabanatuan City. This matter is reportedly now awaiting resolution by the prosecutor due to Aquino’s failure to appear at two hearings.
Leonardo Micua