Post without malicious comment, not libelous

A post in the social media with scathing remark but with no malicious comment, the owner of which is not liable for libel; but when someone shares it with additional malicious comment it becomes actionable. Still, the owner of the original post is not liable.

This was gleaned from the discussion on cyber libel by Atty. Daniel Balucos, of National Union of Peoples Lawyers during the ED Talks, a seminar on journalism held Friday at the Travelers Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport. Balucos said any legitimate expression of one’s opinion on social media is not libelous. But he said blind items posted would become libelous if in the succeeding post the subject of a blind item was eventually identified.

So far, Balucos said, there is no conviction of cyber libel except in the lower courts. “But we have yet to see a promulgation of conviction by the Supreme Court. Sponsored by the San Miguel Corp., the journalism seminar also included topics such as creation of video news, business writing, and sports writing.

News reporters from Zambales and Bataan participated in the day-long seminar.