MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) –Subject to fact-checking by Rappler and Vera Files — A local district court has dismissed one of four counts of a lawsuit filed by Jover Laurio, the woman behind Pinoy Ako Blog against political-social commentator Franco Mabanta.  

Laurio sued  for four counts of libel, including one resulting from a Facebook post by Mabanta where he made fun of her appearance.

In its ruling, the court said, “Beauty lies in the beholder.  What one may consider beautiful may be ugly to another.  We cannot hold Mabanta liable for his perception of beauty.  Besides, that’s his opinion, and this Court does not have jurisdiction over people’s opinions.”

We tried to reach Laurio and Mabanta for comment, but both their cell phones seemed to have run out of battery.