Showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin is facing a new cyberlibel complaint filed by Sharon Cuneta and her husband, former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
On Friday, the couple took legal action at the Makati City Prosecutors Office against the columnist for her libelous remarks against her and her family via her online platforms.
“Inalagaan ko ‘yung pangalan ko ng 46 years, at maganda ang pagpapalaki sakin ng magulang ko, at higit sa lahat, sabi ng tatlong anak ko, mabuti akong ina,” Sharon said, getting emotional as she talked about how libelous remarks affected her family.
“So, napakasakit sa ‘kin, patung-patong. If people pick up tapos talk as if they live with us and they know what we are going through, even my children have suffered and ang sama ng loob nila,” the veteran actress continued in a video shared by TV5’s MJ Marfori.
“It’s a message also na artista kami, pero ang daming nakakalimot na nasasaktan din kami nahi I’m very ano pag pinipintasan okay ako, that’s fine pero parang sumobra ata,” added Sharon who previously courted separation rumors with her husband.
Meanwhile, the couple’s legal counsel BSR Law released a statement condemning Fermin’s “defamatory, malicious, and damaging statements” against the two on her programs.
“Ms. Fermin cannot invoke the right to free speech as a shield to freely make slanderous statements and evade the consequences of such actions. Our clients have been subjects of humiliation and ridicule because of the malicious statements circulated by Ms. Fermin,” stated BSR.
“Our clients have held their silence long enough but the repeated attacks online made against their family are totally unacceptable. It is about time to make her answerable for her criminal behavior,” it added.
READ: Official statement of BSR Law – Legal counsel of Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan:
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 10, 2024
“We have initiated legal proceedings against Ms. Cristy Fermin for her libelous statements against our clients. Our clients, Sharon Cuneta and former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, as public… pic.twitter.com/ag4XYnQdH6
Fermin, on the other hand, reacted to her latest cyberlibel complaint after Sarah Lahbati and Bea Alonzo.
“Pataas ng pataas ang kaso ng libel ah… Sino po kaya ang susunod? Julia Roberts na?,” Fermin said in jest during the Friday episode of her digital show “Cristy Ferminute.”
The columnist said she understands that it is celebrities’ right to file such cases, saying that this matter is inevitable with her nature of work.
“‘Yan ay kasama po ‘yan sa ating trabaho bilang mamamahayag. Sabi ko nga sa mga anak ko, mahiya kayo kapag ako’y dinemanda na magnanakaw, mahiya kayo kapag ako’y dinemeanda’t nakasuhan ng human trafficking, ‘pag ako ay nagbugaw, yun ang dapat nating ikahiya,” said Fermin.
She furthered, “Pero ‘yung ganito, yung cyberlibel, libel cases kasama po ito sa teritoryo ng pagiging mamamahayag natin. At nauunawaan po natin po natin kung saan po sila nanggagaling, nagmumula, kung paano dapat din nilang unawain kung ano ang aming trabaho, ‘di ba, you don’t shoot the messenger.”
