01/11/2025
Philippines
Subject: Demand for Immediate Takedown of False and Defamatory Post Concerning Mayor Alberto Etulle and Notice of Possible Legal Action for Cyberlibel
Dear OneTV Philippines
We write on behalf of Hon. Alberto Etulle, the duly elected Municipal Mayor of Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur, regarding a Facebook post published on your official page, OneTV Philippines, on November 1, 2025, alleging that Mayor Etulle was “arrested and accused of alarms and scandals under the Revised Penal Code.”
This post is patently false, misleading, and malicious. The truth, as officially clarified in a public statement released by the Municipal Mayor’s Office of Josefina, is that Mayor Etulle was never arrested. He voluntarily surrendered to authorities for proper investigation and fully cooperated with the legal process.
Your publication of false information has caused undue harm to the Mayor’s reputation, misled the public, and eroded trust in both his person and office. Such act constitutes defamation or libel, and since the same was committed through a computer system or social media platform, it falls within the definition of cyberlibel under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), which punishes:
“Libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.”
Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code further provides that:
“A libel is a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect... tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a person...”
In view of the foregoing, we hereby demand the following within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of this letter:
Immediate takedown of the false and defamatory post regarding Mayor Alberto Etulle;
1. Issuance of a public correction or apology on your official page, stating the verified facts and acknowledging your error; and
2. Commitment to refrain from publishing unverified or defamatory content about Mayor Etulle or any public official of Josefina in the future.
Failure to comply with this demand shall compel us to initiate appropriate criminal and civil actions against your organization, its editors, administrators, and social media managers, for cyberlibel and damages under the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act No. 10175, and other applicable laws.
We trust that you will act promptly to correct this matter and prevent further dissemination of misinformation.
Thank you.
Source: Jayson Ambaga Etulle FB Post
