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Former Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Tirso Cruz III formally filed his counter-affidavit to the cyberlibel complaint of his predecessor Liza Diño-Seguerra. He swore by his affidavit before senior assistant prosecutor Joselito Bacolor at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on July 31, 2024. At his filing, Tirso was accompanied by his wife Lynn Ynchausti-Cruz and his legal counsel Mary Antonnette Baudi of Alonso and Associates Law Firm. Other lawyers from his legal team, though not present during the filing, include Atty. Peachy Gregorio and Atty. Angela Sibug. Liza sued Tirso for cyberlibel in relation to a nine-part report published on PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in May 2023. The report showed issues surrounding FDCP during Liza's tenure as chairperson. Liza was appointed as FDCP chair from August 2016 to July 2022; while Tirso was entrusted with the same position as FDCP chair from July 2022 until his resignation in March 2024. In an official statement obtained by PEP on August 1, Tirso's legal counsel underlined that Liza's cyberlibel allegation against Tirso is "unfounded and lacks merit." Here is Atty. Baudi's statement in full: "Mr. Tirso Cruz III, who is among the respondents in a cyber libel complaint filed by Liza Diño, former chair of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), submitted his Counter-Affidavit before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office this Wednesday morning, July 31, 2024. "He was accompanied by his legal counsel, Atty. Mary Antonnette M. Baudi of Alonso and Associates Law Offices. "She emphasized that the accusations attributed to Cruz in the release of FDCP documents as a former FDCP Chair is unfounded and lacks merit. "The complaint failed to show Cruz’s complicity in any criminal act and as such the complaint should be dismissed." Tirso arrived at the fiscal's office at 8:49 A.M. of July 31 for the submission of his counter-affividavit.
