By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

'Katips: The Movie' writer and director Vince Tañada said he is planning to file a cyber libel complaint against showbiz personality Juliana Parizcova Segovia following the comedienne’s alleged libelous post. 

Photo Courtesy by Philippine Stagers Foundation / Manila Times / Star Cinema-ABS CBN News

“Alam niyo naman po na ako ay abogado din, at ang sabi ng aking mga partner dito sa aking law firm, 'yung ipinalabas na post nitong dating nanalo sa Ms. Q&A na si Juliana ay totoong libelous,” said the award-winning director-writer in an interview with DZRH.

In a Facebook post, Segovia penned an apparently sarcastic congratulatory message to Tañada’s film after it won seven awards during the 70th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards on July 30 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

"Babatiin ko na sana yung humakot daw ng awards sa FAMAS at pelikulang pa-victim na kunwari tinatapangan para itapat sa ‘Maid in Malacañang,’ kaso andaming resibo. Sige na nga… Congrats Hahahahaha!" she said. 



In her message, Segovia attached screenshots of a blog from pressreader.com, alleging that Tañada has a strong backer which gave his film an edge in its nominations in FAMAS. 

The film director, however, dispelled the claims and said that people should be cautious of fake news. 

"Sana naman po, huwag po tayong mamihasa na hindi totoo lagi 'yung mga binabalita. Kasi, iyan na po tayo nagiging kultura na po tayo ng fake news. Lalong-lalo na po 'yung mga nagpapakalat ay meron na po talagang imahe na puro peke ang mga ikinakalat na mga balita,” the film director said.

Tañada said Segovia’s remarks have a ‘malicious imputation’ to defame someone. He reiterated that he is keen on filing libel charges against the comedienne. 

“Dahil ang libel ay isang krimen na dapat parusahan. Kaya nag-uusap-usap ang kampo po namin kung ano ang mga susunod na hakbangin dahil hindi po siya tumitigil hanggang sa ngayon,” he said.

Tañada furthered that he does not know Segovia and he is wondering why though the latter is not part of Darry Yap’s controversial film ‘Maid in Malacañang’, she is still including herself in the conversation. 

“Itong si Juliana ay nagtataka ako, wala naman siyang… hindi naman siya kasali sa pelikulang 'Maid in Malacañang,' pero nakikialam siya at nagsasalita sa mga ganitong bagay,” he said. 

Tañada and Yap’s film, both about the Martial Law era, are having a head-on battle in cinemas since August 3.