FIRST ON RADAR: Meralco files complaint over ‘fake news’

Complaint suspected to involve cyber libel amid online criticism of solar panel stance.

Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga sends a warning to what he calls “purveyors of fake news.”

In a Facebook post on May 14, Zaldarriaga is seen holding what appears to be a joint complaint-affidavit with Meralco listed as the complainant.

The respondent and the nature of the case were not specified, but Zaldarriaga added the hashtag #cyberlibel to the post, fueling speculation that the company may be filing a case under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which prescribes criminal charges for cyber libel.

Prior to the incident, an image of solar panels supposedly on the roofdeck of the Meralco head office in Ortigas Center, Pasig City had been making rounds online.

Netizens had called out the company for alleged hypocrisy amid its controversial position on regulating residential solar panel installation.

At a Senate committee hearing earlier this month, Meralco executives advocated for clear guidelines on solar panel installation in residential areas to prevent potential safety hazards.

Amid the online debate surrounding Meralco’s position, a netizen uploaded a post on May 9 showing solar panels installed on the company headquarters’ roofdeck, decrying the company’s perceived hypocrisy amid its call for solar panel regulations and rising fossil fuel prices.

The company confirmed that it has been using solar panels since 2020 as part of its sustainability agenda. It also clarified in a separate statement that it does not have regulatory authority over solar installations; however, installing solar panels for home electricity removes some of the additional costs that Meralco charges.

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