Ex-senator Pangilinan files cyber libel complaint vs. YouTube channel

Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday filed a cyber libel complaint against the owners of a YouTube channel over videos that he said damaged his reputation as a public servant and as the husband of veteran actress Sharon Cuneta.

In a 10-page complaint-affidavit filed before the Department of Justice, Pangilinan cited several videos by YouTube channel Bungangera TV that claimed that he supposedly harassed an actress. However, he said the videos did not contain any statement similar to the title.

“The videos authored and posted by Bungangera TV created in the minds of the viewers that I am a husband who physically abuses his wife and children,” Pangilinan said.

“The titles, thumbnails, and all other contents of the videos pertaining to me and my family are all false, have no factual basis, and are intended to destroy or damage my reputation as a public servant, and a husband to one of the most beloved celebrities in the Philippines, Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan,” he added.

He said the videos also intend to destroy his relationship with his children.

As of January 23, he said the videos had garnered 266,775 views.

The complaint was filed against the owners of Bungangera TV and the authorized representatives of Google or YouTube Philippines for the crime of libel under Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.

The complaint was also for violation of Section 5(a) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Pangilinan said he filed the complaint against the representatives of Google and YouTube for “aiding or abetting the commission of cybercrime… for allowing Bungangera TV to upload and maintain videos” that contain libelous content.

“Sasampahan natin sila ng kaso para mag cooperate sila. Sana hindi na kailangan di ba? Kasi nasa kanila ‘yung datos, information, ‘yung ebidensya… so we’re appealing to YouTube and Google na tulungan tayo ma-identify,” he said in an ambush interview.

(We will file a complaint against them for their cooperation. I hope it’s not needed. But they have the data, information, and the evidence… So we’re appealing to YouTube and Google to help us identify.)

YouTube issued a statement saying it is taking quick action against violators of its policy.

"YouTube, which is operated by Google LLC based in the US, has clear policies that outline what content is not acceptable to post. The company quickly takes action against the videos and creators violating these policies when flagged," it said.

"In addition to flagging content for review, people can submit complaints against content they believe violates their rights, including defamation, by filing legal complaints through the online legal removals webform. YouTube takes local legal considerations into account when evaluating these requests and may restrict access to a video after a thorough review," it added.

GMA News Online is still trying to get a comment from Bungangera TV and will publish it as soon as it becomes available.

Pangilinan also sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division due to the lack of information on the identity of the channel’s owner.

“Once the owner/s, author/s, or person/s responsible for the creation and management of Bungangera TV and the libelous videos is/are identified, I will pursue legal action against him/her/them, and I intend to use the data collected and preserved as evidence,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said that the channel may want to earn money through the videos. However, he did not discount the possibility that politics may be involved.

“Pero meron pa rin halong pulitika kasi, kahit paano tayo naman ay naging kandidato nung nakaraang halalan. Kasi nung natapos ‘yung eleksyon hindi naman natapos yung paninira eh. ‘Yun din tinataka ko eh,” he said.

(But there’s still politics involved because I was a candidate in the last election, and even after the elections, the attacks haven’t ceased. That’s what I’m confused about too.)

Meanwhile, the former senator said laws against such attacks must also be improved, adding that the Cybercrime Prevention Act was enacted 12 years ago.

"So marami nang nangyari. Wala pang TikTok noon. Ang YouTube channel noon ay hindi pa talagang lubog ang mga kababayan natin, ika nga, sa panonood ng YouTube... ngayon ibang-iba na ang landscape. Kaya ang batas dapat humabol," he said.

(A lot has happened. There was no TikTok back then. Not too many use YouTube then. Now, the landscape is different. So the law must catch up.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News