Facebook messages send woman to jail

A woman  was arrested for allegedly posting libelous messages against another person on the social networking site Facebook.

Caroline Jane Yongco-Po was arrested by operatives of the Mabolo police inside an establishment in A. S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City on Sunday noon.

A warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Douglas Marigomen of Branch 5 in Cebu City was used in the arrest.

Po was released around noon on Monday after posting P10,000 bail.

The arrest stemmed on the complaint filed by businesswoman Happy Melendres in 2008.

Melendres accused Po of defaming her by posting offensive messages against her on Facebook account.

Police said Melendres filed two libel complaints against Po. The two complaints were dismissed by the  prosecutors’ office.

Melendres filed an appeal before the Department of Justice (DOJ), which later reversed the prosecutors’ decision and ordered that a case be filed against Po before the court.

In his resolution, Mario Ley Gidayawan said the accused “intentionally attacked the reputation of the complainant.”