Catriona Gray has won the libel case she filed against an entertainment editor and writer in 2020.
Her legal counsel, Atty. Joji Alonso, shared the news through an Instagram post on Friday. She also shared a photo of the decision by the Regional Trial Court.
The respondents were Bulgar’s editor Janice Navida and reporter Melba Llanera, who were found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt.” They are sentenced to a minimum of six months and one day imprisonment.
“Finally, after 4 years, the libel and cyber libel cases filed by Miss Universe 2018 [Catriona Gray] have been resolved,” said Alonso, who also called the result a “moral victory.”
The Fil-Australian beauty queen filed a case against Navida and Llanera in 2020 after a fake topless photo of her was released by Bulgar and circulated online.
In a statement addressing the issue, Navida said they did their part in protecting Catriona by blurring the photo and “not releasing the original.”
Navida and LLanera will appeal the decision of the RTC, PEP.ph reported.
“Bilog ang universe. Hindi pa tapos ‘to. Tuloy ang laban para sa katotohanan,” they said.
