Cristy Fermin posts bail in Bea Alonzo cyber libel case

Entertainment columnist Cristy Fermin posted bail after a Quezon City court issued a warrant of arrest against her and her co-hosts in connection with actress Bea Alonzo's cyber libel case.

In her show Cristy Ferminute on July 31, Fermin said she and Wendell Alvarez were able to post bail, while Rommel Villamor was still working on his documents.

A P48,000 bail was set for each of them.

"Recalled na po ang warrant of arrest na inilabas ng Branch 93 ng [Regional Trial Court] Quezon City," she said.

Fermin noted that she and her co-hosts were surprised by the arrest warrant, as it had been out since July 21 but they had only been notified about it on July 30.

"Maging ang aming mga abogado, wala rin pong natanggap," she said. "Naunahan pa kami ng mga pahayagan at ng social media."

She, however, speculated that the recent rains and flooding, which prompted government offices and courts to suspend work, led to the lack of notice.

"Kaya po siguro walang nakarating na resolusyon sa amin," she said, adding that she's the type to commit "voluntary surrender."

"Hindi ko na hinihintay pang lumabas ang warrant of arrest. Hinihintay ko lang na maraffle, at kapag nalaman ko na po kung saang sala o branch napunta ang kaso, nagbabail na ako," she said. "First time ito, na wala kaming tinanggap na resolusyon kaya nagkabiglaan."

In May 2024, Alonzo filed cyber libel complaints against Fermin, Ogie Diaz, and their co-hosts on their respective shows. She also filed a case against an unnamed person who pretended to be speaking on her behalf.

At the time, Alonzo had just broken up with Dominic Roque and had called off their engagement.

The issue became a hot topic on social media and in Fermin and Diaz's respective shows.

Alonzo claimed that she became a victim of “false, malicious, and damaging information.”

Later on, Roque also filed a separate cyber libel case against Fermin. In a statement, he also called out Fermin for her "malicious innuendos" regarding his sexuality.

Addressing Alonzo's actions on Cristy Ferminute during the thick of things, Fermin pointed out that her and Diaz's vlogs weren't designed to focus on Alonzo, but rather to report on both positive and negative stories concerning "public figures."

Fermin told Alonzo that she's a public figure and must expect that her personal life will be talked about.

"Kayo po ay mga isda sa loob ng aquarium," she said. Ang publiko po ay nakatanaw sa inyo. Bawat galaw niyo, bawat ikot niyo, marami pong nakatanaw, wala kayong maaaring ligtasan. Kaya public figures kayo, 'wag masyadong balat-sibuyas."

In June, Fermin addressed Roque's actions, saying celebrities have every right to sue her.

"Karapatan nila ‘yan," she said, "basta tingnan na lang natin kung ano ang mangyayari kapagka nagsagutan na, di ba?”

She also noted that Roque's complaint was the third one she received from a celebrity that year. (It was the fourth case overall, with the first coming from Sarah Lahbati's parents in March. It was dismissed in October due to lack of evidence.)

The first lawsuit from a celebrity was from Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for allegedly "broadcasting baseless and malicious statements regarding their personal and family affairs." Last July 8, Diaz announced that Fermin and the couple had buried the hatchet, with the latter withdrawing the case. They also posted for a selfie.