CEBU, Philippines — Former Cebu City councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid has posted bail for two counts of cyber libel filed against her by actor Richard Yap.
Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. of the Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental ordered the release of Mabatid after she posted a P10,000 bond on October 5, 2022 in a Dumaguete City court for her temporary liberty.
Mabatid has reportedly surrendered to the authorities after a warrant of arrest was issued by the court against her.
On September 30, 2022, Taguig City RTC Branch 271 Assisting Judge Jaime Santiago issued the warrant of arrest against Mabatid.
Copies of the warrant of arrest have been furnished to the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, the Southern Police District and the Southern District Anti-Cybercrime Team in Taguig City.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Yap on November 15, 2021 against Mabatid before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.
Yap accused Mabatid of maliciously posting on social media on September 3, 2021 that he distributed rice using government funds.
Mabatid and Yap run for congressional post in the May 9, 2022 elections in Cebu City North District but both lost to Representative Rachel Marguerite "Cutie" del Mar.
In 2019 elections, Mabatid and Yap were allies of Barud-PDP-Laban. Mabatid won as councilor while Yap lost in his congressional bid against the late Congressman Raul Del Mar who passed away in 2020.
In 2022 elections, Mabatid and Yap severed ties when Barug-PDP-Laban supported the former as its congressional bet prompting the latter to run under the National Unity Party.