Sharon Cuneta seeks DOJ help, mulls complaint vs. man behind rape threat on daughter Frankie

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 21)— Actress Sharon Cuneta has reached out to the Justice Department to ask for help in dealing with the netizen who publicly threatened to assault her daughter Frankie Pangilinan, its secretary said Sunday.

In a message to reporters, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Cuneta also expressed “strong desire” in suing the man who posted the rape threat.

“Ms Sharon Cuneta has brought this matter to my attention and has expressed her strong desire to file a criminal complaint against the person who posted the offending message in social media,” Guevarra said.

The Justice chief noted the veteran actress has also already identified the respondent’s location and place of work. However, if Cuneta decides to push through with the case, DOJ would still have to verify the gathered information, Guevarra added.

In a series of heated online posts over the weekend, the “megastar” lashed out at the netizen who wrote the viral rape threat against her 19-year-old daughter— promising to come after him soon.

“You crossed the line. God help you when I find you. Hindi kita patatahimikin (I won’t let you live in peace),” Cuneta wrote on her social media pages, noting how she is checking his location abroad.

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Guevarra, for his part, said a complaint may be filed in the country even the respondent is abroad—given that an “essential element” of the offense was committed in cyberspace.

“Should the complaint prosper, however, our courts must acquire jurisdiction over the person of the defendant before he could be tried,” the Justice chief added.

Pangilinan earlier made headlines as she stirred online debates regarding victim-blaming women subjected to assaults. She has also criticized a police station and TV host Ben Tulfo for implying that rape was a consequence of women wearing scanty clothing.