Aznar scion sues man for libel, defamation

CEBU, Philippines – A member of the prominent Aznar family has sued the adopted son of actress Amalia Fuentes for libel and three counts of unjust vexation before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for posting “defamatory messages” against her on the Internet.

Angelica Aznar-Sierra filed the complaint for libel and three counts of unjust vexation against Gerald Stevens, 24, after the latter posted defamatory messages through e-mail, Internet, his blog and Friendster account.

The case was forwarded to the RTC after it was filed before the City Prosecutors Office on February 13 last year.

Sierra earlier filed a petition for injunction to stop Stevens from sending “malicious” and “vulgar” messages to her and asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against Stevens who described Sierra in his blog as the “third party” who led to the breakup of his parents’ marriage.

Sierra, who said the allegations were false, demanded P1.5 million in damages and P500,000 in attorney’s fees.

Sierra said that since she “comes from a known family of educators in Cebu” and is “a loving and dutiful mother to her children,” the conduct of Stevens “specifically his obscene, derogatory, and offensive e-mail messages and violent actions” directed at her and her children, have “maligned her good name and reputation as well as caused her much pain, annoyance and anguish,” according to the complaint dated Feb. 8.

In the complaint, Sierra said Gerald had accused her of having an affair with his father that led to the breakdown of the marriage of Amalia and Joey.

She said the allegation “was a clear concoction and is untrue”.

She asked the court to stop Gerald from harassing and intimidating her and members of her family.

Sierra said that from August to November 2007, she received verbal and written threats of physical violence from Gerald. She said he also called her office at the Southwestern University three times looking for her.

In December 2007, said Sierra, she started receiving messages in her Friendster account from Gerald using the names “Geric Stevens” and “Geric.”

In the Internet messages, Gerald called her several “offensive” names and accused her of having an affair with his father, said the complaint, who added that the false accusations have caused her much anxiety.

Sierra attached in her complaint a printout of several e-mail messages sent to her Friendster account dated Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.

An email message sent on Dec. 14 challenged her to view his blog in his Friendster account entitled “My first blog ever: One Reason to Stay in School.”

In his blog, Gerald attached a letter purportedly written by Sierra to his father and said the only reason he was putting up the blog was because of the involvement of Sierra as the “third party” who caused his parents to split up.

According to Sierra, Gerald’s blog was “designed solely to humiliate and ridicule” her as well as to malign her name and reputation.

On Jan. 8, Sierra received another message in her Friendster account where Gerald allegedly cursed her. — Jasmin R. Uy/BRP (THE FREEMAN)