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Philippines

QC court convicts Baguio-based reporter of cyber libel

Philippines

QC court convicts Baguio-based reporter of cyber libel

By Manila Bulletin

By DIANN IVY CALUCIN

A Baguio-based journalist was convicted on Tuesday, Dec. 13, of cyber libel by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 93 over his Facebook post against former Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol in 2017.

According to a DZBB Super Radyo report, Frank Cimatu of Rappler was sentenced to six months to five years of imprisonment after the court found him guilty of the crime of cyber libel.

The report also said Climatu was ordered to pay Piñol P300,000 for moral damages.

The case stemmed from Cimatu’s Facebook post in 2017 stating that the then DA secretary gained P21 million in just six months in office.

The report said Piñol was able to prove that his net worth increased from 2009 to 2016 when he was out of government service.

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