MANILA, Philippines – Prosecutors in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, trashed four cyber libel complaints filed by Sistine Grace Cardona against Rappler and other respondents for lack of probable cause.
Cardona’s four complaints were filed on January 28, 2022 and resolved on March 25, 2022. She claimed she is the regional coordinator of the executive pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ , founded by embattled preacher Apollo Quiboloy, but the resolution says she is “more accurately” designated as evangelism kingdom leader for 2020 in the Davao del Norte cluster.
The respondents across the complaints include Rappler Incorporated, Rappler Mindanao bureau coordinator Herbie Gomez, regional head Inday Espina-Varona, former researcher Vernise Tantuco, former KOJC members Arlene Caminong-Stone, Faith Killion, and Reynita Fernandez, and Ateneo de Manila University professor Jayeel Cornelio.
The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by Rappler from lawyer Theodore Te, was filed by Panabo city prosecutor Jennifer Namoc-Yasol, deputy city prosecutor Albert Bulseco, and assistant city prosecutor Jennifer Grace Aquiatan-Ruiz. The prosecutors cited the requisites for an imputation to be libelous: it must be defamatory, it must be malicious, it must be given publicity, and the victim must be identifiable.