Former Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan has filed cyberlibel charges against the owners of a YouTube channel for uploading videos that malign his and his family's reputation.
The former senator filed the charges before the justice department on Monday, March 11.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Pangilinan said a YouTube channel named Bungagera TV has been spreading "outrageous, concocted falsehoods" content against him and his family in a bid to gain profits and viewers.
"The titles, thumbnails, and all other contents of the videos pertaining to me and my family are all false, have no factual basis, and are intended to destroy or damage my reputation as a public servant, and a husband to one of the most beloved celebrities in the Philippines, Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan," he said.
"The libelous videos that contain public and malicious imputations are also meant to destroy my family and damage my relationship with my wife and children," the former senator added.
STATEMENT ON THE FILING OF CYBERCRIME CHARGES AGAINST BUNGANGERA TV
— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) March 11, 2024
We filed cybercrime charges against the owners of Bungangera TV YouTube channel for maligning our reputation as public servant and Sharon’s husband.
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Pangilinan also sued officers of YouTube and Google Philippines.
In an interview with the media, he said they filed charges against the two large corporations "for aiding and abating criminal libel."
"Nireklamo natin ito sa YouTube na against community, violation of their standards pero hanggang sa ngayon, nariyan pa rin. Hindi nila inaaksyunan. Mahalaga sa akin ang aking pamilya. Itong mga gumagawa na ito, sabi ko nga, hindi pa sila namamatay, sinusunog na ang kanilang kaluluwa dahil sa paninira nila," he said.
TINGNAN: Kinatawan ng Google at Youtube sa Pilipinas at isang Youtube Channel, sinampahan ng reklamo ni dating Sen. @kikopangilinan sa @dojphofficial | via RH 29 @boy_gonzales pic.twitter.com/1HsT57og81
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 11, 2024
As of this posting, the channel of Bungagera TV cannot be searched and accessed anymore on YouTube.
The former senator has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division to preserve "the Bungangera TV YouTube videos and related data and to collect computer data relative to the videos of the said channel, including the identity of the owner/s, author/s, and person/s responsible for the creation and management of Bungangera TV, and the subject videos posted therein."
