Cebu gov files cyberlibel raps vs netizens over corruption claims

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has filed at least 10 cyberlibel complaints against two individuals accused of spreading false and defamatory accusations about her.

The complaints, filed on April 21 with the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7), named Michael Deen Cano (aka Deen Chase) and Efren Omayan (aka Dong Efren) for making baseless claims on Facebook.

The charges stem from a post by Cano, who accused Garcia of corruption, extortion, and abuse of power, without providing any supporting evidence. These allegations were later shared by Omayan, amplifying the spread of the accusations.

Atty. Alex Avisado Jr., Garcia’s legal counsel, emphasized that while criticism is permitted, spreading unverified and harmful accusations crosses a line. He stated,

“Yes, you are free to criticize. But you are not free to spread false and reckless accusations.”
The legal team argues that the posts were part of a coordinated attack against Garcia, especially with the elections approaching. Atty. Avisado further asserted that the posts were false and malicious, and should not be protected under the guise of free speech.

READ: Gwen sues netizens for cyberlibel over viral ‘corruption’ claims

The cases are now pending further investigation by the NBI, which is currently reviewing the evidence provided by Garcia’s legal team to determine the next steps in the process.