Former finance exec Magno sues vlogger for cyberlibel
Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno —University of the Philippines School of Economics website
MANILA, Philippines — Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno filed a cyberlibel complaint on Tuesday against vlogger Allan Troy Sasot, also known online as Sass Sasot, a legal action taken just days after several social media personalities received a scolding in Congress for being purveyors of “fake news.”
Magno, also an economics professor, sued Sasot for claiming in two posts in February that Magno bribed lawmakers to find the spurious name “Mary Grace Piattos” in the paper trail examined during the House inquiry into Vice President Sara Duterte’s use of public funds, and to gather signatures in support of Duterte’s impeachment.
Magno’s 12-page complaint filed before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office accused Sasot of posting “malicious, demeaning and defamatory imputations” of bribery and corruption in connection with various issues hounding the Vice President.
READ: House to cite vloggers for contempt if they skip next fake news hearing
House probe snub
A die-hard defender of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sasot was one of the social media personalities summoned by and who continued to snub the three House committees jointly conducting an inquiry into the spread of fake news and disinformation online.
Three of the vloggers who attended the hearing last week were forced to publicly apologize under intense questioning by the panel members after failing to produce proof to support their controversial posts.
The House tri-committee warned that subpoenaed vloggers who would still miss the next hearing on April 8 may be cited for contempt.
Habitual tagging
Magno’s complaint cited the posts Sasot made about the “Piattos” issue on Feb. 5 and about Duterte’s impeachment on Feb. 6.
“Even after the publication of her malicious post on (Feb. 6), respondent Sasot habitually tags me in her critical online discussions on the existence of the West Philippine Sea, the campaign against the Duterte administration, and the unliquidated funds of the University of the Philippines,” the complaint said.
Sasot’s posts on social media have since set off a domino effect on fellow Duterte supporters, who “further made spiteful comments of their own,” it added.
The complainant wanted Sasot penalized for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which carries a prison term of six to 12 years.
