Congresswoman Claudine Bautista-Lim filed a cyber libel complaint against Enchong Dee at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Davao Occidental on August 23, 2021.
Bautista-Lim is the representative of the Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights or DUMPER party list.
This happened after Dee maligned the congresswoman for her extravagant wedding with Jose French “Tracker” Lim at Balesin Island Club Resort in Polilio, Quezon on July 28, 2021.
As stated in her cyber libel complaint, Bautista-Lim revealed that she was astonished after receiving text messages and private messages from her family and friends.
She was informed that Dee, Agot Isidro, Pokwang, and Ogie Diaz called her out on social media due to her extravagant wedding.
She said, “True enough, when I checked their twitter accounts, thru my husband’s legal counsel, they each lambasted me for my wedding.
“This they did, even if I do not know them personally. I have no personal or professional dealings with them in the past or present.
“Yet, they had the audacity to post something against me based only on hearsay.
“None of them were present at my wedding day nor a privy to the expenses for my wedding.
“Yet, they attacked me as if they have personal knowledge of the expense for my wedding.”
She also explained that she is not usually attending parties and gatherings that may attract the attention of the public. Bautista-Lim said she never expected she would receive “libelous remarks” from the actor.
She added, “There is not even a speck of a reason for them to attack me for celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime-and-a-childhood-dream-wedding of every little girl.
“Truth be told, it was even a private ceremony not meant for public consumption or feasting.
“No media outfits were even present to flaunt or publish the ceremony as the same was strictly private.
“It was only for my and my husband’s loved ones, families and close friends to enjoy and remember.”
The congresswoman stated that she was accused of being “corrupt” and “insensitive” by the actor.
She stated, “ENCHONG DEE even went as far as saying that I used public coffers to fund my wedding by categorically saying that ‘The money for commuters and drivers went to her wedding’, to the detriment and injury to my honor and name.
“I humbly submit that I am a representative of DUMPER PTDA Partylist, which gives voice, assistance and aid to public utility drivers and commuters, as well, in the House of Congress;
“The posts were meant nothing more than their malicious intentions of maligning my person, depicting me as a corrupt public official.
“All the readers of the post, especially those from Mindanao and those from the House of Congress would identify me as the subject of the malicious imputation.
“In this case, there is no doubt that the posts of ENCHONG DEE and [female netizen] were published as they were posted through their respective Twitter accounts;
“The posts were widely read by my loved ones, family, friends, relatives and the general public not just locally but worlwide.”
Bautista-Lim claimed that Dee was not truly sorry when he apologized to her on August 18, 2021, on twitter.
“He was not sorry to me and for the damage that he has done. He just wants to deflect, albeit unsuccessfully, this criminal charge against him.
“This does not do any good for him. It only bolstered and magnified his admission of guilt beyond reasonable doubt for his un-provoked and baseless libelous remarks.
“After damaging my name, dignity and honor, ENCHONG DEE realizing this forthcoming criminal charge, attempted to un-scramble a scrambled egg, so to speak, by removing his original post and tweeting the following [apology on Twitter].”
At the end of her statement, Bautista-Lim is asking a fine for the “moral damages” worth of “PHP500,000,000” and “exemplary damages” amounting to “PHP500,000,000” to make the incident “deterrent”.
Meanwhile, Dee received overwhelming support from the netizens following this incident. Here are some of their reactions:
When u are an elected official and you throw an extravagant wedding party during a pandemic, naturally the people will comment . @enchongdee777 said it. https://t.co/yv07Ckfzm6
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) November 13, 2021
hahaha kaya nga.. parang hindi isang public figure
— John (@followjohndie) November 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/chescagonz/status/1459063634752016386?s=20
“A public official, more especially an elected one, should not be onion skinned. She is looked upon to set the example how public officials should correctly conduct themselves even in the face of extreme provocation.”
Case must be dismissed. @enchongdee777 https://t.co/ptPDmC5pZN
— ᴍɪᴄᴏ ʙᴀʀɴᴇs ⚖️ (@attorneymico) November 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/sailopez24/status/1458896460183859202?s=20
This case against Enchong Dee is ludicrous. Claudine Bautista-Lim should, as a representative of PUVs, should not have an ostentatious wedding in the first place. Public officials are using the law to weaponize and create fear towards dissent and criticism–vital for a democracy. https://t.co/sSVokXj2PJ
— #SurfaceMoncada2 #RejectMarcosDuterte (@nickchase327) November 12, 2021
First, that cong is a public official.
Second, there is no libellous remarks on Enchong Dee’s tweet.
Third, that cong cannot be onion skinned.The libel complaint will definitely be dismissed. PERIOD. Huwag shunga MGA DDS!
— As Of The Moment (@LessWithoutMe) November 12, 2021
Not that I stan Enchong Dee but the case of Claudine not Barretto against him is ludicrous.
An ostentatious wedding by a public official should be condemned regardless of its legality.#DecriminalizeLibel#ProtectEnchongDeePhoto from https://t.co/9VkcgM8AR3 pic.twitter.com/QbGQo4PdnL
— #SurfaceMoncada2 #RejectMarcosDuterte (@nickchase327) November 12, 2021
