All eight members of P-pop girl group BINI have taken legal action after facing online backlash sparked by the “malicious” editing of their street food review last July.
On Monday, August 18, the members, accompanied their legal counsel Atty Joji Alonso, formally submitted and filed their “unjust vexation” complaint under the Cybercrime Prevention Act against an unnamed individual at the Hall of Justice of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“Today we assisted BINI in the filing of a criminal case. This is not a libel case. It is a case for cybercrime under Sections 4B and 6 of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in conjunction with unjust vexation under Article 287 of the RPC,” Alonso, stated in an Instagram post.
The complaint stemmed from BINI’s guesting on the US-based YouTube channel “People Vs Food” a few months ago, where the group sampled popular local delicacies.
The segment, intended as a lighthearted content, drew mixed reactions after an edited clip of the original 25-minute vlog was cut to just two minutes, highlighting only their negative reactions which, according to Alonso, “completely changed the show’s narrative”.
According to Alonso, the “malicious splicing” of the vlog fueled online hate and bashing against BINI which escalated to personal attacks, name-calling, and grave insults, causing the artists irreparable emotional and mental distress.
If found guilty, the respondent may face imprisonment of six to 12 years, along with P1 million in damages to be paid to each member, as reported by ABS-CBN News.
Alonso emphasized the importance of context and fairness in online content sharing, as well as accountability in protecting reputations against harmful misrepresentation.
“It must be remembered that freedom to post online is not an absolute right, and must be accompanied by truth, accountability and responsibility. Right to free speech ends when it starts to malign reputatios or cause harm and damage upon others,” she wrote.
The lawyer concluded her post by stressing the girl group’s firm stand against digital abuse.
“BINI is taking a strong stance against this digital form of abuse which is prevalent. Literally anyone may fall victim. In filing this case, BINI stands as a voice in fighting for all those who remain unheard.”
