Neri Miranda’s co-accused in cyber-libel case issues public apology
CEBU CITY—An executive of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic has issued a public apology and cleared two persons whom she earlier portrayed as bogus sellers of a camera.
Danilyn Nunga, road manager of Star Magic, said Clarence Taguiam and Donna Marie Go—both residents of Cebu City—were not in any way involved in any illegal activities as was portrayed in her post on Instgram in 2015.
“Their names have been mistakenly dragged into an online scam controversy. They are decent and honest people engaged in legitimate businesses,” said Nunga in a half page printed apology in a Cebu newspaper on Friday.
“This apology is issued to clear their names from any fraudulent, criminal, or other aspersions,” she added.
Nunga’s co-accused, television actress Neri Naig Miranda, refused to enter into a compromise agreement with the two complainants.
“She (Miranda) chose to fight it out in court,” lawyer Jan Michael Cagulada, the legal counsel of the two complainants, told the Inquirer.
Miranda, the wife of Parokya ni Edgar rock band vocalist Chito Miranda, and Nunga were indicted by the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for putting online a photo of two people who were falsely portrayed as bogus sellers of a camera.
She and the manager Nunga were charged with violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Cagulada said the charges against Nunga were set to be dropped by Judge Ricky Jones Macabaya of the Regional Trial Court Branch 5 in Cebu City after the latter issued a public apology to clear the complainants.
Another public apology was set to be issued by Nunga in another newspaper, the lawyer said.
Assistant Prosecutor Ruso Zaragoza, in indicting the accused, said Nunga was “reckless” in posting a photo of the complainants on Instagram.
In the post last April 30, 2015 Nunga said she bought a GoPro Hero3 Action camera but failed to get it despite having paid P7,500.
The message was reposted by Miranda, the actress. She was held equally liable because she didn’t bother to verify if the message was truthful.
Instagram is an online mobile and social networking service that allows users to take photos and videos and share them on various platforms.
Taguiam, who learned of the false post, denied ever selling a camera.
He and his friend tried to get in touch with the accused by sending online messages.
His lawyer finally wrote the TV actress and manager, asking them to remove the defamatory post and issue a public apology. The letter was sent to ABS-CBN Corporation in Quezon City.
Miranda immediately removed her Instagram post. Nunga did the same but it reportedly took some time.
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