High profile libel complaints in Philippine showbiz

In 2007, actors Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby lodged a libel complaint against showbiz writer and talent manager Lolit Solis after she alleged that the actors were sharing "sweet moments" at the poolside of Sofitel Hotel. Since these statements were published in Lolit's Pilipino Star Ngayon column, the late Veronica Samio, who was then the entertainment editor of the newspaper was also included in the complaint.

Both Lolit Solis and Veronica Samo were indicted by the Manila prosecutor's office but Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby withdrew the Php 12-million libel suit against the entertainment columnist. According to Piolo, he did not want to see Lolit in jail as she has the same age as his mother. The case was eventually withdrawn. In 2017, the two estranged showbiz personalities and hugged at an event.

In 2017, Jobert Sucaldito was formally charged with 37 counts of cyber libel. In 2019, he made a plea bargain and plead guilty to the lesser charge of 37 counts of ordinary libel and also applied for probation.

Comedian John Lapus filed a complaint against Jobert Sucaldito in 2011 after the latter wrote in his Bandera column that John got drunk, made a ruckus and acted inappropriately after a Valentine concert at a bar. The complaint advanced to a court case, with Bandera editor Ervin Santiago and publisher Eileen Mangubat set to face charges along with Jobert.

Queen of All Media Kris Aquino sued Atty. Jesus Falcis III for nine counts of cyber libel. Kris and Atty. Jesus have been engaging in a word war over Nicko Falcis, Atty. Jesus's brother and Kris's former business partner who she accused of misusing the company's credit card for his personal needs.

In 2019, Kris Aquino, Atty. Jesus Falcis, and Nicko Falcis settled all matters privately. Kris refrained from talking and even turned off the comments on her Instagram account, only opting to release a statement through her lawyers that the three of them "fairly settled all financial issues and amicably worked out all personal differences."

In 2017, Fashion Pulis published a blog post saying that the case Liz Uy filed against him has already been dismissed the previous year.

Model and host Deniece Cornejo sued Fashion Pulis or Michael Sy Lim for libel after he published her leaked medical reports on his blog. The reports contained Deniece's test results after she was allegedly raped by host and dancer Vhong Navarro.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray filed libel and cyber libel complaints against Bulgar entertainment editor Janice Navida contributing writer Melba Llanera after the newspaper published an article about the beauty queen's alleged nude photos in 2021.

The photos turned out to be fake and digitally altered and the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office deemed that Catriona Gray's complaints had merit. Janice Navida faces one libel charge, as well as one cyber libel charge as the posts about the alleged nude photos were also made on Bulgar's Facebook account. Melba Llanera also faces one libel charge. The case is still ongoing.

In 2008, Cristy Fermin was convicted of libel and was ordered to pay PhP1 million in damages and PhP6,000 in fines to Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez instead of serving a jail term.

Annabelle Rama filed a cyber libel case against producer Jayke Joson after he allegedly called her a "swindler" with several pending cases in an interview with an online news site in 2021. The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City found probable cause for Annabelle's complaints but Jayke appealed and the Department of Justice dismissed the case in 2023.

Nadia Montenegro filed libel charges against Annabelle Rama after the talent manager made a series of defamatory tweets and statements on television against her in 2011. In 2013, Nadia decided to withdraw the charges and claimed that she and Annabelle have reconciled.

Annabelle Rama filed libel complaints against Nadia Montenegro due to posts that Nadia made on Facebook and Twitter against her in 2012. The complaint also included late actress Amalia Fuentes and late showbiz reporter Chito Alcid. The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor junked the libel charges in 2013.

The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City dismissed the complaints arguing that Annabelle Rama was simply recounting events in her life in Bianca Gonzales's column. For her social media posts, laws against cyber libel were not yet enacted then so statements made online do not fall under what libel laws would consider a publication.

In 2012, Amalia Fuentes filed a libel complaint against Ruffa Gutierrez who posted blind item-type statements about "an old, fat, smelly woman who won't stop inventing false stories" about her and her family on Twitter. Included in the complaint was showbiz writer Allan Diones who picked up Ruffa's posts and published an article on Abante Tonite claiming that it was Amalia that Ruffa was referring to. Amalia also lodged complaints against the newspaper's president Allen Macasaet; managing editor Nicolas Quijano Jr.; editorial board members Janet Bay, Jesus Galang, Jeany Lacorte and Randy Hagos; advertising officer Ron Tamayo; production officer Jeorge Punzalan; and circulation officer Lino Minor.

Esther Lahbati, the mother of actress Sarah Lahbati sued veteran showbiz writer Cristy Fermin for cyber libel in the early part of 2024. Included in the suit were Cristy's Showbiz Now Na co-hosts Wendell Alvarez and Romel Chika. On her Instagram account, Esther posted a picture of her and her husband Abdel Lahbati in front of the Department of Justice, triggering speculations on who she might be suing. Cristy herself confirmed on her online show Showbiz Now Na that she and her co-hosts were indeed the reason for Esther's visit to DOJ.

As the case in ongoing, Cristy Fermin did not give details on what the basis Esther Lahbati's cyber libel complaint was but many speculate that it might have something to do with Cristy and her co-hosts Wendell Alvarez and Romel Chika's statements in online show Showbiz Now Na which fueled rumors about the separation of Sarah Lahbati and her husband Richard Gutierrez.

In an episode of his online show Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update, Ogie Diaz said that he has no hard feelings towards Bea Alonzo. While he vows that he will defend himself in court, he also recognized that Bea was well within her rights to defend herself. Cristy Fermin reacted to Bea's suit in her online show CristyFerMinute, denying singling out Bea and profiting off her but adding that she was ready to face her in court.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta and her husband, former senator Kiko Pangilinan filed cyber libel complaints against veteran showbiz writer Cristy Fermin on May 10, 2024. In a statement released through their lawyers, the couple alleged that Cristy has subjected them to humiliation and ridicule due to repeated attacks against their family.

Darryl Yap responded to Vic Sotto's complaint in a Facebook post saying that anyone is free to file a case because nobody has a monopoly on justice and most especially the truth. Darryl requested the court to issue a gag order against Vic while he responds to the actor's initial petition. In a separate statement, the director insisted that the movie is based on documented events from materials published in the '80s.