The Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued a gag order that prohibits public discussion or commentaries on the case for alleged violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC) filed by Tessa Prieto Valdez against Angel Chua.

The order was issued by RTC Branch 144 on an urgent motion filed by lawyer Alexander Llanes Acain Jr. in behalf of Chua. Acain told the trial court that Prieto violated the sub-judice rule under the Rules of Court.

The sub judice rule prohibits comments and disclosures about ongoing judicial proceedings to safeguard the integrity of the legal process and protect the rights of the involved parties.

In his motion, Acain told the trial court that Prieto participated in an online interview with journalist Joan Maglipon with whom she (Prieto) discussed the merits of her case at the RTC.

The lawyer said the statements during the interview were widely shared on Feb.10, 2025, across the online platform and social media accounts of Pep.ph.

Acain said that Chua, who comes from a respected and prominent family, expressed her full support to the gag order to protect her from harassment and misinformation.

He also said that Chua pointed out that “gag orders could serve as a tool for others to protect themselves from the ‘diarrhea of the mouth’ often displayed in media for self-gain and attention, noting that there are more significant matters for the Filipino people to read about, rather than a circus that should be addressed in its ‘proper’ venue.”

With the gag order, Acain said his client can focus on her case “without the distractions of public speculation and outside interference.”