Woman faces trial for hitting ex-boyfriend on Facebook
Insults posted on social media can get you into trouble, especially if you use words like “thief”, “maniac” and “animal”.
A woman in Cebu City who lambasted her former boyfriend on Facebook will face trial for her online rants posted in Cebuano.
The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office found sufficient basis to indict Melody Mutia on a charge of violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Bail for her temporary release was recommended at P80,000.
A subpoena was sent to Mutia at her address in barangay Apas seeking her side of the conflict but she didn’t submit any counter-affidavit to the prosecutor, according to the resolution.
The case was filed in the Regional Trial Court last Wednesday after its approval by OIC Cebu City Prosecutor Maria Luisa Ratilla.
The prosecutor’s office said Mutia was prompted by ill will and malice when she attacked “the honor, integrity, character and reputation” of the complainant, Chistopher Cabellon of Cebu City.
The woman posted bitter comments about Cabellon’s photo which appeared in Facebook accounts of two other people on Dec. 15 and 19, 2014.
She used the name “Maryjane Heights”.
The complainant said he was sure the FB user was Mutia, who had left their dwelling on Dec. 3, 2014 to allegedly live with someone else in barangay Apas Lahug.
The man showed several text messages from the same “Maryjane Heights” who taunted him in the next months of October and November.
He said the allegations were all lies.
Mutia was charged with making defamatory comments that fall under “content-related” offenses of Section 4 or cybercrime offenses, paragraph C(4).
This part refers to cybercrime offenses involving libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, but this time committed through a computer system.
Libel is an imputation of a crime, vice or defect that is real or imaginary, or any act, omission or status which is made publicly that causes dishonor, discreidt and contempt of a person.The penalty upon conviction is imprisonment and possible damage claims in a later civil suit.
While Mutia used a different name on FB, the prosecutor said there was enough evidence to prove that she owned the account.
Prosecutor Ghandi Truya said he found the posted comment “falling squarely under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.”
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