In a seven-page resolution dated June 9,2022, Prosecutor Jose Charito Cortez II found probable cause to file the information to court since the Facebook Post of Bello has malicious imputation against Tupas.
The resolution said there is actual malice on the statments posted by Bello in his Facebook page since these were not based on established facts.
"No statements declaring the complainant as drug dealer or drug user surfaced from articles relied upon by the respondents," the resolution said.
It also stated that the Facebook article shows lack of sufficient information that same was published by other social media pages.
"Even if the said allegation is true, the respondent fsilrd to identify such person in his counter-affidavit," the resolution stated.
Also, the respondent as the verified owner of the page carrying a blue badge, it can be presumed that Bello authored the said article.
Court records bared, Tupas filed the case aganist Bello o after the losing vice presidential aspirant posted in his social media page on March 1 that he is a drug dealer who allegedly snorted P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs.
The complainant also said that the post is also a call out to his former boss Vice President elect Sara Duterte after not showing off on vice presidential debate.
It said the target supposed to be Duterte but it turned out that the malicious post of Bello made him the subject of defamation.
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