Shining Liwanag On Your Rights: London Nurse

Dear Attorney,

I’ve been working as an NHS nurse here in London for 13 years now. Through hard work and perseverance, we were able to build our dream house by the beach in La Union and help my parents renovate our old home.

Lately, though, one person in our neighborhood — my ninang sa binyag, of all people — has been posting nasty things about me and my family online. She says we’ve become arrogant, that my parents have bad manners, and even accused me of being a mistress of a married British man (which is absurd, since my husband — her nephew! — and kids live with me here in London).

My mother already confronted her, and we even went to the Barangay, but she just keeps posting. What can I do to make her stop?

Sincerely,

London Nurse

Dear London Nurse,

Oh dear — Facebook.

Ang makabagong lungga ng mga marites; the digital barangay plaza where everyone suddenly becomes a human CCTV — and your ninang turns into a full-time gossip blogger.

Let’s call this what it is: Online Defamation, or Cyberlibel when done over social media. In plain English — paninira sa dangal sa internet. Because when someone posts lies attacking your morals, marriage, and even your parents’ integrity — that’s not “freedom of expression.” That’s freedom from manners.

Now, before we start lighting the legal fireworks — congratulations! You did the right thing by going to the Barangay. That’s step one under the Katarungang Pambarangay system. And since your ninang ignored that and continued her weekly Facebook teleserye, you’ve now officially unlocked the next level: legal escalation.

There are two main routes you can take — depende kung gusto mong magpatahimik o magparusa.

Option 1: The “Wag Mo Akong Subukan” Route (Criminal Case)

If you’re done playing nice, file a criminal complaint for Online Libel before the Prosecutor’s Office or the NBI Cybercrime Division.

This isn’t just a pasaring — it’s the legal equivalent of saying,

“Ninang, delete mo ’yan, now na!... or delete ka ng account habang naghi-himas ka ng rehas.”

It’s serious stuff — fines, maybe even jail time. More importantly, it reminds everyone that “Facebook chismis” can have very real, offline consequences.

Option 2: The “Pera-pera Lang ’To” Route (Civil Case)

If you prefer to fight smart instead of loud, go civil. File a civil case for damages for the humiliation, stress, and reputational harm she caused.

You can even ask the court for a Writ of Injunction — a fancy legal order that says:

“Take down every single post, and stop posting new ones — effective immediately, bago pa lumabas ang Part 8 ng fake news saga mo.”

This path is less about punishment and more about poetic justice — the kind that hits the wallet, not the conscience.

But before you charge in wearing your Andres Bonifacio bandana, mag-Sherlock Holmes ka muna. Your next mission (which should be mission definitely possible):

• Screenshot everything — every post, every comment, complete with timestamps and usernames. Capture her words before she mysteriously deletes them.

• Copy the URLs — proof that those posts existed and weren’t just products of your righteous rage.

• List your witnesses — anyone who saw the posts and can testify to the damage done; they are your kakampi kung nais mo sumugod sa legal battles mo.

Those will be your Exhibits A, B, and “Ay grabe ’yan, Ninang!” when you sit down with your lawyer in the Philippines.

And yes — you will need a lawyer. Cross-border cases, defamation nuances, and jurisdiction rules are not DIY projects. But with your evidence in hand, a sharp attorney can build your case faster than your ninang can type, “eto ang regalo ko sa ’yo, inaanak!”

You’ve worked hard to build a beautiful life — now protect it with the same grit and grace that got you there.

The Internet may never forget, but neither does the law… especially when screenshots exist.

And that, my friend, is the law. Boom! I’m out.

Warmly,

Atty. Liwanag

(This column is for general educational discussion only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific concerns, please consult a lawyer.)

For comments and suggestions, e-mail TFCN at [email protected].

Meet Atty. Erick Liwanag (yup, Liwanag talaga — kasi laging may liwanag sa mga legal dilemmas mo!). Siya ‘yung tulay between confusion and clarity. Forget the boring law books and nosebleed terms — si Atty. Liwanag explains the law in plain, real-world language na maiintidihan ng kahit sino. Hindi man siya superhero (‘di daw pumasa sa Bar ang kanyang kapa 😀), he’s got something better — sharp wit, solid legal know-how, at ‘yung chill na energy ng taong gusto lang magbahagi ng liwanag sa batas, na walang sakit sa ulo.💡⚖️