Sharon Cuneta, Kiko Pangilinan reportedly withdraw cyberlibel case against Cristy Fermin
All is well between Sharon Cuneta, Kiko Pangilinan, and Cristy Fermin, as the couple has reportedly withdrawn their cyber libel case against the entertainment columnist.
On July 8, the two parties faced each other in court, as announced by showbiz insider Ogie Diaz via a Facebook post.
"Nakakatuwa. Okay na sila ngayon," he wrote, accompanying his post with a selfie of Fermin, Cuneta, and Pangilinan smiling together after settling their issue.
"Hindi naman sa korte lang lagi ang lugar para ipaglaban ang karapatan at katotohanan. Pwede namang mag-usap nang puso-sa-puso. Hanggang sa pairalin ang pagpapatawad. Lalo na kung meron namang nabuong relationship noong araw pa," Diaz said.
In a statement from Pangilinan's office obtained by ABS-CBN, the parties had reached a settlement through a "mediation procedure" that was done before the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148.
"We also manifested that due to the settlement, we are permanently desisting from pursuing the case," lawyer Maria Fricela Kim said.
"Since the prosecution cannot proceed without the cooperation of the private complainants, Judge ruled that the case is dismissed for lack of evidence and Fermin is found not guilty," she added.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan stated they were "happy" to "finally move forward from this case."
To recall, the couple filed cyberlibel charges against Fermin for "broadcasting baseless and malicious statements regarding their personal and family affairs."
The lawsuit was filed after Fermin publicly discussed the on-and-off relationship between Cuneta and her daughter KC Concepcion, alleging it was caused by Concepcion misplacing one of the Megastar's valuable possessions.
"Mayroon po kaming source na nagkuwento na mayro’n daw pong napakahalagang kagamitan si Sharon Cuneta na ipinagkatiwala kay KC Concepcion bigla na lang naglaho," Fermin claimed.
"Noong hinahanap na ni Sharon, hindi maibigay ni KC. Ang dahilan—hindi ko alam kung sadya o talagang nagipit lang—naisanla ni KC nang walang pahintulot sa Megastar," she added.
The talk show host also pointed out how Cuneta and Pangilinan did not post any greetings for KC during her birthday.
Fermin subsequently took to her Cristy Ferminute program to explain that she is merely relaying information to the public as an entertainment reporter and urged celebrities to understand her job, stressing, "You don't shoot the messenger."
Last June 28, Fermin apologized to the couple on her YouTube channel, where she admitted that she had hurt Cuneta's feelings with her words.
"Ang pagpapakumbaba po ay hindi ibig sabihin na duwag tayo. Hindi po nababawasan ang ating pagkatao kasi sa ating pagsasalita, may nasasaktan tayo. At ako, aminado ako, nasaktan si Sharon sa mga binitiwan ko dito, ang dahilan kung bakit nga siya nagsampa ng kaso," Fermin said.
"Pero umiiyak siya nung sinampa niya 'yun, at sinabi niya, 'Ayoko pong gawin ito dahil mahal ko 'yung tao.' Alam mo, isang araw, magkikita rin kaming dalawa," she added. "Ano ba naman 'yung sabihin ko na, 'Shawee, humihingi ako ng paumanhin kung nasaktan kita doon sa mga sinabi ko. Ibig sabihin hindi ako perpekto."
While her case with Cuneta and Pangilinan is now over, Fermin is still the subject of legal action from Bea Alonzo for "false, malicious, and damaging information," Dominic Roque for "malicious statements and innuendos," and Sarah Lahbati's mother, who has not yet specified the reasons for her complaint.