
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – CNN Philippines’ news host Pia Hontiveros today told The Adobo Chronicles that she will be suing Vice President Leni Robredo for cyber libel — the same crime Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was convicted for.
The impending lawsuit stems from Hontiveros’ interview with Robredo on the program “Newsnight” where the Vice President called her ‘Karen.’
Hontiveros said being named ‘Karen’ was derogatory, a lie, and malicious. She, however, didn’t mention her ABS-CBN rival broadcaster, Karen Davila, as the person concerned in the “unfair comparison.”
While the interview happened on television, the news segment as well as taped videos of the newscast were widely shared on the Internet, exacerbating Hontiveros’ humiliation. So that counts towards “cyber” libel.
For developments on this story, tune in to CNN’s “Newsnight” where Hontiveros goes above and beyond the headlines.