Woman who ‘mocks’ company official on FB faces trial

A woman is facing trial for allegedly maligning the president of a private firm with her comments in a social networking site.

The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office found basis to indict Lalaine Cenit Cordova on charges of violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Bail was recommended at P40,000.

While Cordova didn’t identify the complainant in her Facebook post, Asst. Cebu City Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño deemed it proper to let the court decide on who was was alluded to in the defamatory statements.

“It must be stressed that mere denial sans proof to corroborate the same. Denial by nature is not only weak but are matters that have  to be threshed out in a full-blown trial and is better appreciated by the court of appropriate jurisdiction,” the prosecutor said  in her resolution.

The issue stemmed from a complaint filed by Capt. Juan Antoine Dela Torre,  president of Cebu Gems Innovation and Career Development Center, Inc.

He said he was  subjected to public “mockery” and “ridicule” due to Cordova’s Facebook post.

In his complaint, Dela Torre said he instructed the company’s human resource manager to post a notice on Cebu Gem’s Facebook account to inform the public that four former employees were  no longer connected with  the firm.

He said the notice caused a lot of negative reactions, including Cordova’s statement which  caused him public humiliation.

Dela Torre said he believed he was the one alluded to by Cordova in a statement posted in FB on Sept. 14, 2014.

In her counter-affidavit, Cordova said she did not identify anyone in her online statement.

Because of this, she said she should not be held liable for the offense.

The prosecutor, however, said Cordova’s defense should be raised and resolved by the trial court.