Judge issues arrest warrants for Neri Naig-Miranda, ex-Star Magic employee

MANILA, Philippines – Regional Trial Court Judge Ricky Jones Macabaya issued warrants of arrest on Thursday, February 11 for actress Neri Naig-Miranda and one Danilyn Nunga, who is reportedly no longer an employee of Star Magic.

According to Cebu’s Sun Star, Miranda and Nunga were charged with libel in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

According to Inquirer.net, the warrants of arrest were dated January 13, but were released to reporters on February 11. Neither of them has posted bail of P10,000 since the warrants were issued.

The warrants of arrest were issued following a libel complaint filed by Clarence Taguiam.

Sun Star reported in October that Taguiam accused Nunga of posting a defamatory photo on Instagram of him and his friend, Donna Marie Go. The photo’s caption said that Nunga bought a Go Pro Hero3 Action Camera from them on April 30, 2015, but never received the item. She paid P7,500 for the camera.

Miranda reposted the photo and statement on her Instagram account.

According to Taguiam, he never sold the camera to Nunga on April 30.

Taguiam, through his lawyer, asked Nunga and Miranda to delete the photos and to publicy apologize. The two deleted the photos but did not apologize.

Reports say that before the arrest, Nunga and Miranda filed a motion to defer proceedings and order a re-investigation of the case, saying that they were not given due process – they weren’t given the chance to submit a counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.

Macabaya denied the accused’s motion. During the pleading, prosecution lawyer Jan Michael Cagulada said that Nunga and Miranda were subpoenaed to give a counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation. – Rappler.com