LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A social media influencer based overseas will be facing cyber libel charges after the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office found probable cause for the filing of the case in court.
In a 4-page resolution, the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office stated that there is prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction against Greafin Bell Valdez Dodon as her malicious post against Rep. Eric Yap was made through facebook, a social media platform accessible through the internet.
It added that her remark made against the lawmaker could arguably undermine his reputation in the eyes of the public aside from the fact that he was specifically named in the said malicious post.
Records show that sometime in February 2025, Yap learned, through Mark Kevin B. Mendoza, a resident of and Noel Buhay Coronel, of a facebook post concerning him allegedly published by Ms. Dodon through her social media account under the name, Greafin Bell VD, which has more than 10,000 followers.
The subject facebook post contained, among others, the statements “However, let us not forget that Yap has greatly benefitted from Benguet through overpriced infrastructure projects, as explained by Mayor Magalong. Yap accumulating wealth and securing prime properties in just a few years.”
The complainant argued that the statement contains malicious insinuations that he had committed criminal acts in connection with his performance as the Congressman of Benguet, specifically stating that the post imputed upon him violations of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 7080 or the Plunder Law, RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and relevant provisions of the Revised Penal code.
Dodon’s facebook post was accompanied by photos and a hyperlink to news articles which, according to her, served as the source of her commentary. The article discussed issues relating to overpriced infrastructure projects, and the practice of some politicians benefitting from supply contract manipulation, including references to an ‘SOP matrix.’
In response, Yap submitted clearances from the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan certifying that no administrative or criminal cases had been filed or are pending against him before said government institutions.
The resolution stated that all the elements of cyber libel are present in the said case, particularly that the post contain an imputation that complainant may have benefitted from overpriced infrastructure projects, thereby suggesting criminal or illegal conduct; the post was made public in facebook and was seen by persons other than complainant; the malice is presumed in defamatory statement and that her facebook post constitutes a malicious act of defamation as it internationally disseminates false and damaging statements intended to tarnish Yap’s reputation which subjects in to significant emotional stress and public shaming aside from infringing on his legal rights to his good name and reputation. By Dexter A. See
