Cyber libel complaint of Liza Diño-Seguerra vs. pep.ph, FDCP successors dismissed

The case stemmed from a nine-part report on her FDCP tenure, which she said contained accusations she sought to challenge in court.

The 2024 cyber libel case that former Film Development Council of the Philippines chair Liza Diño-Seguerra filed against entertainment news website PEP.ph and her two successors has been dismissed, she announced on March 13.

“After almost two years — 22 months to be exact — the case has now been dismissed,” Diño-Seguerra wrote on Facebook. “While I respect the legal process and the decision that was issued, I cannot say I am surprised.”

She claimed that during the mediation stage, none of the respondents “attended even once,” saying it “reflected lack of regard for the process itself.”

‘Very serious accusations’ vs. Diño-Seguerra

Diño-Seguerra pointed out that she filed the case because there were “very serious accusations” against her—and she believed it was important to defend her name. She noted that while she fully understood that scrutiny and criticism come with public service, freedom of speech and freedom of the press “also carry responsibility.”

“Throughout this entire process, none of the accusations made against me were ever proven to be true. The matters raised had already been examined by the proper institutions, including the Commission on Audit,” she added.

She said she will review the resolution with her legal counsel before deciding on what to do next. For now, she said, “I remain focused on the work I continue to do.”

78 counts of cyber libel filed

The case stemmed from PEP.ph’s nine-part report on alleged issues during Diño-Seguerra’s FDCP tenure from August 2016 to July 2022. She filed 78 counts of cyber libel against PEP.ph’s editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon and news editor/writer Rachelle Siazon, as well as her FDCP successors Tirso Cruz III and Jose Javier Reyes. (Cruz succeeded Diño-Seguerra, but resigned in March 2024, citing personal reasons. Reyes took over in April 2024.)

 

 

Throughout this entire process, none of the accusations made against me were ever proven to be true. The matters raised had already been examined by the proper institutions, including the Commission on Audit.

Liza Diño-Seguerra

 

 

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