Kiko Pangilinan Files Libel Case Against YouTube Channel over Malicious Content
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan files a libel case against a YouTube Channel for allegedly spreading false information and malicious content.
A libel suit was brought against YouTube channel Maharlika by the Vice-Presidential candidate. Sen. Pangilinan filed the case on Monday, Feb. 14, for allegedly circulating false and harmful information designed to harm himself and his family’s reputation.
The senator said that his wife, actress Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, and son Frankie want to sue Maharlika for breaching Republic Act 10175, popularly known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. After the senator repeatedly urged Google to remove “libelous video content,” the tech giant, which owns YouTube, must explain how these films do not violate its community standards.
“We also urge corporations placing ads on these and similar YouTube channels to stop enabling these sites that peddle lies and disinformation,” Pangilinan said when filing the complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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The statement further noted that the videos’ contents are completely fraudulent, have no factual foundation, and are meant to harm or ruin my reputation as a senator and public servant. Apart from that, it wants to damage his family, particularly because he is the husband of Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, one of the Philippines’ most well-known celebrities.
“More importantly, the libelous videos are meant to destroy the family. The libelous videos are not only intended to damage my relationship with my wife but also meant to destroy my relationship with our children,” the senator said.
On May 21, 2021, the Maharlika YouTube channel began publishing a series of films targeting Pangilinan. He stated that the persons behind the channel had “behaved irresponsibly in disregarding the truth or untruth of the assertions in the video.” It also had videos of his wife Sharon on it.
This comes after Pangilinan filed two separate cyber libel cases in July 2021 against the YouTube channels “Latest Chika” and “Starlet” for identical bogus videos that were deleted by YouTube. “Latest Chika” and “Starlet” claimed in the tapes that Pangilinan was beating his wife Sharon and even cheating on Megastar.
More than 80 fact-checking groups from across the world informed YouTube on January 12 this year after it failed to combat internet deception and misinformation. Several organizations have urged YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki to put a halt to the dissemination of misinformation on the network.
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