Libel complaint vs Mabatid, journalists dismissed

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the libel complaints filed by singer Eva De Los Santos and husband, Ruben David De Los Santos, against Mabolo Barangay Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid and employees of two newspaper companies in Cebu.

The De Los Santos couple filed the libel case against Mabatid, for purportedly making malicious accusations against them, and the editors-in-chief of two newspaper companies and their staff for publishing the statements.

Mabatid sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) in December last year because of an alleged fraudulent sale of a townhouse made by the couple to her. Mabatid’s accusations against the couple were captured in a Facebook live video and was published the following day.

In a 5-page resolution dated August 28, City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas ruled that there was no sufficient evidence that merits for the commission of libel by any of the respondents.

“Thus, malice in law is not necessarily inconsistent with an honest or even laudable purpose. For that reason, even if the utterances or publication is injurious, the presumption of malice disappears upon proof of good intention and justifiable motive, as in the instant case,” the resolution reads.

Mabatid, who is currently in Australia, posted scanned copy of the resolution with the caption, “Karma! God is so good.”

But Ruben David, in a message reply to Cebu Daily News, said they are yet to receive a copy of the resolution.

“We haven’t received anything yet from the court. We will be talking to our attorneys on Monday,” said Ruben David.