By Rey Panaligan
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Sunday (June 21) said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will start an investigation should actress Sharon Cuneta proceed to file a criminal complaint against a netizen who allegedly threatened, in a social media post, to rape her daughter, Frankie Pangilinan.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Sharon posted a photograph of the netizen she identified as a certain Sonny Alcos, who reportedly wrote on social media that he would “rape” Frankie if he was younger to escape criminal liability.
But Sharon said Alcos has since deleted all his social media accounts.
Enraged by the posts, Sharon vowed to find the netizen and to file criminal charges against him. She also said she will bring up the matter to DOJ Secretary Guevarra.
“Ms. Sharon Cuneta has brought this matter to my attention and has expressed her strong desire to file a criminal complaint against the person who posted the offending message in social media,” Guevarra told journalists covering the DOJ.
He said that “it appears that Sharon, through her own efforts, has identified the person concerned, including his location and the name and address of his employer.”
“Should Ms. Cuneta proceed to file a criminal complaint with the DOJ, we shall verify the respondent’s identity and address for the purpose of giving him notice,” he added.
Reacting to the netizen’s post which Sharon reposted on her own account, the actress said: “YOU CROSSED THE LINE. GOD HELP ME AND THE LAW! GOD HELP YOU WHEN I FIND YOU. HINDI KITA PATATAHIMIKIN.” (I will not give you peace.)
Sharon also said: “We are now verifying our leads to your employers. I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THIS KABABUYAN (nasty remarks) YOU HAVE POSTED TO DISRESPECT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS DESPICABLE, MALICIOUS, AND INSIDIOUS WAY WILL BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO THEM.”
“I AM ALSO FORWARDING THIS TO SEC. MEYNARD GUEVARRA WHO HAS BEEN MY FRIEND AND LAWYER SINCE 1992. HAHANAPIN KITA” (I will find you), she added.
The social media post was apparently stirred by Frankie’s debate with a television personality on the issue of rape.
Frankie called out on television broadcaster Ben Tulfo who disagreed with her view that women should not be taught how to dress up to protect them from rapists.
She stressed that “rape would not exist without rapists.”