NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Leachon Files Cyberlibel Complaint Against Garin Over Viral Facebook Video
Photo credit: Dr. Tony Leachon
Health reform advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon has filed a cyberlibel complaint against House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, accusing her of making false and damaging statements about him in a Facebook video posted on May 22, 2026.
Represented by Nabua Law Offices, Leachon said the complaint stems from remarks allegedly accusing him of “killing a patient without seeing the patient” and other statements that he said unfairly attacked his professional reputation as a physician.
According to the complaint, the statements were made publicly online, shared widely, and were not supported by evidence. Leachon said these remarks crossed the line from criticism into defamation.
In a statement, Leachon stressed that he has never engaged in personal attacks against Garin and said his decision to pursue legal action is based on principle and accountability.
“This case is not about silencing critics. It is about drawing the line between fair comment and malicious falsehood. Truth matters,” he said.
His legal team argued that the statements fall under cyberlibel provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175), which penalizes defamatory content published online that identifies a person and harms their reputation.
The complaint also noted that Leachon is pursuing separate accountability cases before the Ombudsman involving alleged irregularities in government service, saying both actions reflect his broader advocacy for transparency and responsible conduct in both public office and social media.
Leachon maintained that the case is not personal but a stand against what he described as the misuse of online platforms to spread unverified and damaging claims.
Represented by Nabua Law Offices, Leachon said the complaint stems from remarks allegedly accusing him of “killing a patient without seeing the patient” and other statements that he said unfairly attacked his professional reputation as a physician.
According to the complaint, the statements were made publicly online, shared widely, and were not supported by evidence. Leachon said these remarks crossed the line from criticism into defamation.
In a statement, Leachon stressed that he has never engaged in personal attacks against Garin and said his decision to pursue legal action is based on principle and accountability.
“This case is not about silencing critics. It is about drawing the line between fair comment and malicious falsehood. Truth matters,” he said.
His legal team argued that the statements fall under cyberlibel provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175), which penalizes defamatory content published online that identifies a person and harms their reputation.
The complaint also noted that Leachon is pursuing separate accountability cases before the Ombudsman involving alleged irregularities in government service, saying both actions reflect his broader advocacy for transparency and responsible conduct in both public office and social media.
Leachon maintained that the case is not personal but a stand against what he described as the misuse of online platforms to spread unverified and damaging claims.
May 29, 2026
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