Following Jam Villanueva’s emotional reaction to her ex-boyfriend Anthony Jennings officially confirming their breakup, concerns have surfaced about possible legal repercussions for publicly sharing private conversations between the actor and his reel partner, Maris Racal.
On Tuesday, Jam broke her silence for the first time after Anthony officially announced the end of her nearly seven-year relationship with Anthony and addressed circulating rumors about Maris’ alleged involvement in it.
Through her Instagram Stories, Villanueva shared screenshots of intimate exchanges between Anthony and Maris, hinting at a potential off-screen relationship between the two while she and Anthony were still together.
While most netizens stood supportive of Jam for bravely exposing Anthony and Maris’ screenshots and revealing the true nature of their relationship, others reminded her that sharing private conversations without consent might violate the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”, which safeguards personal information and privacy in the Philippines.
Under the law signed in 2012, unauthorized disclosure of private information could result in penalties. By supposedly posting actual screenshots of the conversations without permission, Jam may face legal consequences.
Failure to comply with the Data Privacy Act can result in financial penalties and possible imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the violation.
Speculation about legal action heightened after ABS-CBN Star Magic’s legal counsel, Atty. Joji Alonso, weighed in on the controversy. In a statement addressing the issue, she discussed the implications of Jam’s actions.
According to the lawyer, while Maris and Anthony’s actions may be viewed as morally questionable, she asserted that they did not committed any legal offenses since they were not married to their respective partners.
“Assuming that all the screenshots are legit, the fact remains that Maris and Anthony have committed NO crime. Their actions may be regarded as morally wrong, but they were never married to their respective partners,” Atty. Alonso wrote.
She further noted, however, that Jam may face legal issues, including cyber libel and data privacy violations, as her actions cannot be justified by personal pain or betrayal.
“Jamela, on the other hand, may have committed at least two crimes—cyber libel and violation of data privacy. She cannot hide her actions under the guise of ‘moving on.’ Yes, she may have experienced pain and betrayal, but this does NOT give her the license to violate the law,” the Star Magic attorney explained.
As of writing, neither Anthony nor Maris have responded to the issue, including any official action to their alleged publicized conversations.
