Tag: CIBER LIBEL

  • Can Screenshots Be Used in Court in the Philippines?

    Can Screenshots Be Used in Court in the Philippines?

    Imagine this situation: someone sends a threatening message through Facebook Messenger, confirms a loan through a text message, or makes an important promise in a chat conversation. Many Filipinos immediately take a screenshot and keep it as proof. Later, a dispute arises, and the question becomes unavoidable: Can a screenshot be used in court? In…

  • The Legal Boundaries of Gossip: Understanding Oral Defamation, Unjust Vexation, and Cyber Libel in the Philippines

    In the Philippines, the “Marites” culture—a colloquial term for neighborhood gossip—is a common social fixture. While sharing stories might seem like harmless bonding, the line between social chatter and criminal conduct is often thin. Imagine a heated argument between neighbors where one party shouts “Walanghiya!” and “Mangongotong!” in front of a crowd, or a frustrated…