2 North Cotabato broadcasters found ‘guilty’ of online libel

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A local court found two broadcasters here “guilty” of online libel on Friday.

The broadcasters were identified as Eric Dugaduga Rodinas, an anchor of Radyo Natin and Larry Baja Subillaga, both residents here.

The case was filed by Gov. Lala Taliño Mendoza after the two posted “malicious” statements in their social media accounts on March 14, 2017.

Subillaga said in his post that the governor was fooling the people of the province.

Dugaduga in his Facebook account, said the governor became rich because of a project.

The two broadcasters pleaded “not guilty” during the arraignment.

The case was filed after Senior NBI Agent Aristotle De Leon of the Cyber Crime Division checked the URL of the accused and found that their Facebook accounts were not hacked.

Judge Jose Tabosares of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 23, in Kidapawan City sentenced the two broadcasters two to four or eight years jail term and ordered them to pay P2,500,000 in damages.

The two were set to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines had yet to issue a statement on the matter.