Catriona Gray wins libel case vs tabloid editor, writer

Lifestyle & Entertainment

BEAUTY Queen Catriona Gray has won another battle of her life. But this time not in pageantry, but in court.

Gray has proved before the court that

an entertainment editor and a writer of a tabloid have indeed made a libelous act due to a fake topless photo of her that was released by the media outlet and circulated online.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 93 in Quezon City found editor Janice Navida and reporter Melba Llanera of Bulgar "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" of the libel and cyberlibel case filed against them.

Both are sentenced to at least 6 months imprisonment for each of the separate cases.

Gray’s legal counsel, Atty. Joji Alonso, shared the news through her Instagram account on September 20.

Alonso posted a photo of her with Gray holding a document. She also shared a photo of the decision by the RTC.

"Finally, after 4 years, the libel and cyber libel cases filed by Miss Universe 2018 @catriona_gray have been resolved," Alonso captioned.

The lawyer thanked the Fil-Australian beauty queen for trusting them, saying "it was not an easy tread but it is all worth it".

"This is not just a judicial win but a moral victory" Alonso added.

Bulgar in a statement said the fight is not yet over.

"Bilog ang universe. Hindi pa po tapos 'to. Tuloy ang laban para sa katotohanan" reads part of the statement.

It said that being in the media industry, it's already part of their lives to face cases and that the charges filed against them by Catriona is not new.

"Tulad ng ibang propesyon, hindi madali ang pagtupad sa aming tungkulin ngunit buong loob, tibay ng dibdib at tiwala sa Panginoong Maykapal ang aming sandata sa mga labang aming kailangang kaharapin na kaakibat ng aming paghahatid ng katotohanan sa taumbayan" read the statement.

"Maaaring hindi natin makamit ang pagsang-ayon ng lahat sa panahong ito ngunit patuloy tayong naniniwala na sa takdang panahon, katotohanan din ang magtutuwid ng lahat." it added.

Llanera and Navida have already filed a motion for reconsideration and will appeal to a higher court.

It was July 2020 when Catriona filed a case against the tabloid after a photoshopped nude photo of her circulated online.(LAO)