MEGASTAR Sharon Cuneta and her husband, former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, filed a cyber libel complaint against showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, May 10.
In an Instagram reel posted by MJ Marfori, the married couple discussed in an interview with the press that their family was deeply affected by the claims made by the 67-year-old host-columnist, which led them to pursue legal action.
“Inalagaan ko ‘yung pangalan ko ng 46 years. Maganda ang palaki sa’kin ng magulang ko. At higit sa lahat, sabi nung tatlong anak ko, mabuti akong ina. So napaka sakit sa’kin. My children have suffered. Sama ng loob nila. We’ve been off social media partly because of this,” said Cuneta.
“Ayoko ‘to kung pwede lang, pero parang it’s a message also, artista kami pero ang daming nakakalimot na nasasaktan din kami na hindi niyo naman kami kilala nakikita niyo lang ‘yung trabaho namin,” continued the singer-actress.
When asked what specific claim triggered the official complaint, the couple preferred not to disclose it, as the complaint has already been filed.
An official statement of BSR Law, the legal counsel of Cuneta and Pangilinan shared by MJ Felipe on X (formerly Twitter), stated that the celebrity couple “possesses the same rights to privacy as normal individuals.”
“We have initiated legal proceedings against Ms. Cristy Fermin for her libelous statements against our clients. Our clients, Sharon Cuneta and former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, as public figures, possess the same rights as any other private citizen and taxpayer — they have the right to privacy and to be protected against defamatory, malicious, and damaging statements, and these rights have been violated by Ms. Fermin,” the statement read.
Cuneta is the second celebrity to recently file a cyber libel complaint against Fermin, following Bea Alonzo who filed hers last May 2.
Meanwhile, on May 10 episode of “Cristy FerMinute,” Fermin acknowledged all the cyber libel cases that have been filed against her. She said she understands where they are coming from, but can’t say anything else yet.
“Talagang tumataas ang mga libel, ng mga demandahan. From Sarah Lahbati, to Bea Alonzo, Sharon Cuneta na ang kasunod. Sino pa kaya ang susunod, si Julia Roberts na? Basta naiintindihan nating kung saan sila nagmumula. Wala pa po ako masasabi. Wala pa kaming impormasyon na tinatanggap, basta naiintindihan natin ito. Kasama po ‘yan sa trabaho natin bilang mamamahayag,” she said. (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer / with a report from Rappler)
