Cristy Fermin reacts to cyberlibel case filed by Sharon Cuneta, Kiko Pangilinan

MANILA — Veteran entertainment columnist and radio host Cristy Fermin slightly tackled the cyberlibel complaint filed by Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan in her radio show “Cristy Fer Minute” earlier Friday.

“Territorial po ‘yan, ‘yang mga libel case, mga cyber libel — it comes with the territory,” Fermin said. 

She even candidly said, “Pero pataas nang pataas ang level ha. Talagang tumataas ang level ng mga demandahan ha. From Sarah Lahbati, Bea Alonzo, ngayon Sharon Cuneta na. Sino kaya ang susunod? Julia Roberts na?”

She appealed to her listeners and followers not to hate on the Pangilinans’ move to file a complaint against her. Instead, she said she understands where the couple is coming from.

Naiintindihan po natin sila, naiintindihan natin kung saan sila nanggagaling. Wala pa po kaming masasabi, wala pa po kaming impormasyon tinatanggap. Basta naiintindihan po natin ito,” she said.

Fermin has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

According top BSR Law, the legal counsel of Cuneta and Pangilinan, they have initiated legal proceedings against Fermin “for her libelous statements against our clients.”

“Our clients, Sharon Cuneta and former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, as  public figures, possess the same rights as any other private citizen  and taxpayer — they have the right to privacy and to be protected against defamatory, malicious, and damaging statements and these rights have been violated by Ms. Fermin,” BSR Law said.

“Ms. Fermin cannot invoke the right to free speech as a shield to freely make slanderous statements and evade the consequences of such actions. Our clients have been subjects of humiliation and ridicule because of the malicious statements circulated by Ms. Fermin. Our clients have held their silence long enough but the repeated attacks online made against their family are totally unacceptable. It is about time to make her answerable for her criminal behavior.

“We leave it to the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City who we trust will resolve the case based on its merits and as expeditious as possible.”

The couple went to the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office Friday morning and filed a cyberlibel complaint against Fermin.