Jayke Joson

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the dismissal of the cyber libel charges filed against former actor-producer Jayke Joson before the Quezon City (QC) Prosecutors by Annabelle Rama-Gutierrez for lack of probable cause.

In a resolution signed by the DOJ Secretary and promulgated last Feb. 22, the DOJ ruled that prosecutors “erred in finding probable cause” against the businessman Joson and the resolution dated March 21 last year of the Office of the City Prosecutor of QC is hereby “Reversed and Set aside.”

“The complaint against Respondent-Appellant [Joson] is hereby dismissed for lack of probable cause,” the DOJ resolution stated.

The DOJ also ordered the QC prosecutors to withdraw the corresponding information filed before the QC Regional Trial Court branch 90, and to report action taken here on within 10 days from the receipt of the resolution.

“[Joson] did not act with malice in issuing said remarks against [Rama],” the DOJ also stated on its resolution. “Considering the element of malice is not present, the instant case must be dismissed for lack of probable cause.”

The case stemmed from the complaint by the talent-manager Rama against Joson after back-and-forth bickering between the two camps on social media and online news reports.

Joson responded with a counter-affidavit denying having a hand in the publication of such reports. He also cited Rama’s status as a public figure, making his remarks against her “form part of privilege communication.”

In its resolution, the DOJ said Joson’s remarks were not defamatory, and that Joson was able to present documentary proof to back the statements he issued against Rama.

“The remarks of the Respondent-Appellant [Joson] were not defamatory. On the contrary, Joson was able to present the documentary proof on which he based his statements upon,” the resolution also stated.

It also said Joson’s revelations of Rama’s pending cases -- one of the points raised by Rama in her complaint -- was previously reported by several news online outlets.

Joson, according also to the DOJ resolution, did not act with malice in issuing said remarks against the former actress and now talent manager.

Joson, for his part, welcomed the DOJ decision.