09.16.06
‘True’ ghost story spawns libel case
ONE OF the real-life characters in a story published in Book 9 of "True Philippine Ghost Stories," found libelous her depiction in the series on supposedly factual tales of horror.
Christine Cecilia Villarosa, a customer care specialist at Level-Up! Inc., filed libel charges before the Quezon City prosecutor against Michelle Segovia, a former friend who supposedly wrote the story. Villarosa said the story falsely and maliciously portrayed her as a "greedy bitch."
Villarosa said she was the character named Christine in "The Necklace," a story about a mysterious necklace found in the ladies’ comfort room of Level-Up!
According to the story, Mitch, a former Level-Up! employee, found the necklace in the sink. Christine, according to the story, asked to keep the jewelry unless someone claimed it.
The story said, since she started wearing the necklace, Christine, who everyone in the office knew "was a real bitch," "smiled more often and became easy to get along with."
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when not wearing the necklace, she reverted to her old habits.
The story also recounted alleged mysterious occurrences in the office since the necklace appeared, such as objects being moved, employees hearing strange laughter and knocking on the door though no one was there.
The story suggested that the necklace might have been a "gift" for Mitch, and the giver was angered that someone else kept it. At the end, though Christine supposedly did not want to return the necklace, Mitch found it in her drawer at home one morning.
Villarosa denied keeping the necklace, saying she gave it back to Segovia, who wanted to wear it to a party.
Though all characters only had first names, Villarosa said people in the office recognized them. The story carried the byline of Paul Co, a former officemate, but Villarosa said she was told it was Segovia, the character named Mitch, who actually wrote the story.
Until she left the company, Segovia was her friend, said Villarosa. Co, who was credited with a byline for the story, was also charged with libel.
