Woman arrested over cyber libel raps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Think before you click.

A 32-year-old woman was arrested after she was hauled to court for cyber libel.

Lucille Belarmino was collared at her home in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Tibiao, around 5 a.m. on April 11.

Members of Tibiao Municipal Police Station, together with Antique Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit (APPO-PIU), Provincial Intelligence Team – Antique, and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, collared the suspect by virtue of an arrest warrant for four counts of cyber libel docketed as Criminal Case Nos. 2023-03-10450, 2023-03-10451, 2023-03-10452, and 2023-03-10453.

Judge Ernesto Labio Abijay Jr. of the Regional Trial Court 6 (RTC-6) Branch 10 in San Jose, Antique issued the arrest warrant on March 31, 2023.

A P10,000 bail for each count was recommended for the suspect’s temporary liberty.

Belarmino is the number 3 most wanted person of Tibiao and fifth in Antique province.

Staff Sergeant Junjee Mabuhay, Tibiao police investigator, said a lady barangay captain accused the suspect of defaming her.

The incident stemmed from the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Belarmino allegedly posted on her social media “libelous” statements against the complainant.

She made accusations about how the money was spent and the beneficiaries.

The complainant did not bother to lodge a complaint with the police station as she directly filed the case with the prosecutor’s office.

Belarmino is now detained.