Pedro, a private citizen, posted on Facebook in April 2019. He said Congressman Jose pocketed ₱200,000,000.00 that should have become relief goods for victims of war.

In May 2021, Congressman Jose filed a case for cyber-libel against Pedro. The congressman claimed that Pedro’s insinuations were false, malicious, and libelous.

Pedro countered that the prescriptive period (the time limit) for filing such case is only one year. Hence, the case is expired.

Jose said that under the Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012, the prescriptive period is 15 years. Hence, the case can still be filed.

Who is correct?

Pedro is correct. Cyber-libel is not a crime distinct from libel. It is the same crime. Hence, the same prescriptive period for traditional libel (one year) also applies to cyber-libel.

• Causing v. People of the Philippines. G.R. No. 25824. April 8, 2026.