Bea Alonzo was revealed to be asking P30,000,000 from talent manager and showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz for the damages allegedly made by the latter against her.
In a statement published by Ogie’s legal counsel, Atty. Regie Tongol disclosed that his clients filed counter-affidavits against Bea, who filed charges against the showbiz reporters for information they published on their online program.
Meanwhile, Ogie’s co-host, Loi Villarama, has filed perjury against Bea.
Atty. Tongol believed that Bea failed to prove that there was malice in the information disclosed by Ogie about her.
They also argued that Bea was a public figure.
“By being an actress, complainant in effect gave the public a legitimate interest in her life and in her work. Therefore, the subject posts and utterances by Mr. Diaz’s co-hosts are within the realm of fair comment on her work as one of the actresses in the Philippines contrary to their claim in the media that it was about her personal life,” he said.
“Under our laws ‘fair commentaries on matters of public interest are privileged and constitute a valid defense in an action for libel or slander’ because democracy would be meaningless without free discussion of public affairs, even at the cost of a few bruised egos,” he added.
They also described the P30-M being asked by Bea to Ogie’s camp as unjustified and also urged journalists, bloggers, and writers to not be “cowered” by “onion-skinned” public figures.
“Our clients will fight this case with courage because they have no malicious intent and the thirty million pesos (P30,0000,000.00) damages being asked by Ms. Bea Alonzo in her complaint is not only unjustified and unreasonable but is also exorbitant. We are also ready to file other counter charges against Ms. Alonzo for malicious prosecution and damages for this suppression of our client’s freedom of the press and expression in due time,” the lawyer stated.