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The complainant, who works for the Caloocan City government, was shown in a now-deleted post that referenced the ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ video game
MANILA, Philippines – A local government unit (LGU) employee from Caloocan City filed a complaint against Facebook meme page Follow The Trend Movement (FTTM) for cyber libel and unjust vexation after he was shown in one of its memes.
The FTTM meme in question, posted on June 7, showed the back of the employee while he was driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The meme referenced the video game Grand Theft Auto VI, with the caption: “LEAKED: GTA VI Caloocan City.”
The employee is a person with disability (PWD) who works for the Caloocan City Assessment Department.
He filed a complaint with the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office against FTTM media director Mark Anicas, partnerships lead Erika Antuerfia, and content executive Jane Grafane for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, violation of Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for PWDs, and unjust vexation under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code.
The now-deleted Facebook meme garnered more than 8,300 reactions, 197 comments, and 684 shares.
The Caloocan employee said in his complaint that someone recognized him even though his face was not shown in the photo. He then reached out to FTTM via Facebook Messenger on June 8 and requested the deletion of the post, but only received an automated reply. FTTM took down its post a day later.
Rappler sought an interview with the employee and his legal counsel, but they declined to give a statement.
Meanwhile, FTTM’s lawyer Alexandra Soledad told Rappler that the Facebook post focused on the use of an ATV on a highway, not on the employee himself or his condition.
“The comparison was directed at the general scene…. It does not in any way attribute to misconduct or malice on the part of the complainant. It was intended to show the concept of GTA, so it’s not intended for him, does not attack him, and there’s no overt act saying he’s being ridiculed,” she said as the respondents filed their counter-affidavit on Monday, August 4.
Soledad added that an anonymous source submitted the photo to FTTM.
The page encourages its followers to submit “entries” that can be used as memes, which undergo screening, according to Anicas.
Anicas also noted that they have been expressing support for PWDs for years.
“The allegations are quite an overreach, honestly, since we can’t advocate for something and then eventually go against it,” he said.
Soledad sees the case as “an attempt to suppress press freedom and freedom of speech.”
“Libel is intended to restrict unprotected speech and protect the repute and dignity of others, but not to silence those who wish to speak within the bounds of law,” said the lawyer.
The Caloocan LGU has been the subject of numerous FTTM memes since May.
Targeting local projects and demanding government accountability, the meme page has become a satirical watchdog. Even non-Caloocan residents report their complaints to FTTM in hopes of action from their LGUs.
The filing of the reply-affidavit of the Caloocan employee is scheduled on Wednesday, August 13. – Rappler.com
Eirene Manatlao is a senior journalism student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2025, she is also the associate feature editor of The Catalyst.
