TIRED of being vilified online this campaign period, Congresswoman Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado, representative of the 2nd District of Bohol has filed four separate libel cases and sought multi-million peso damages against, Atty. Dan Neri Lim, Arlene P. Karaan and Dan Ismael C. Lim. In addition, Congresswoman Aumentado also filed an election offense case at the Commission on Election (COMELEC) Office in Intramuros, Manila against Atty. Dan Neri Lim and Arleen P. Karaan.
According to the formal complaint filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City on April 15, 2025, Rep. Aumentado states she is charging Atty. Dan Neri Lim and Arlene P. Karaan with the crime of Libel for uttering defamatory and slanderous statements questioning the paternity of her daughter which was aired livestream in their radio program and shared on social media platforms last March 26, 2025. She further states that Atty. Lim’s and Ms. Karaan’s declaration that her youngest child has a different father and is not a full-blood sibling to the brothers constitute malicious gossips which are clearly defamatory; they have, in effect, maliciously insinuate that she is unfaithful to her husband, Governor Aris Aumentado and has brought a spurious child into their marriage. Rep. Aumentado contends that both Lim and Karaan have clearly cast aspersions on her person, tarnished her reputation, and subjected her to public scorn and disgrace. She stressed their malicious imputations caused her sleepless nights, serious anxiety, mental anguish, loss of appetite and deep sense of dishonor not only as a public official, but more importantly as a mother and a wife. Consequently, she sought moral and other damages in the amount of several million pesos.
With regard to the case of election offense filed before the Commission on Election (COMELEC), Rep. Aumentado states in her complaint-affidavit that she is charging Atty. Dan Neri Lim and Arlene P. Karaan with violation of COMELEC Resolution No. 1116, otherwise known as the Anti-Discrimination & Fair Campaigning Guidelines for the 2025 National & Local Election and BARMM Parliamentary Elections (NLBPE) and/its related laws and jurisprudence. Accordingly, Atty. Lim and Ms Karaan committed gender-based harassment, willful and malicious utterances of lewd statements, and unwanted sexual, misogynistic, and sexist remarksduring this election period. Rep. Aumentado claims that both Lim and Karaan publicly mocked and ridiculed her by uttering intrusive remarks that were offensive to her personal dignity. She further claims that Atty. Lim and Karaan sexually objectified her by discussing live on air her panty or underwear in a most demeaning manner. She maintains that their vulgar and sexist remarks were clearly intended to humiliate her by reducing her to the brand and cost of her intimate apparel. She emphasizes that Atty. Lim’s and Ms. Karaan’s calculated public tirade were certainly uncalled for and in bad taste, it was done in utter disrespect to her dignity as a woman, and a clear violation to COMELEC’s anti-discrimination policy.
In addition, Rep. Aumentado also filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor for Quezon City a complaint-affidavit accusing Atty. Lim’s son, Dan Ismael C. Lim of Online Libel (3 counts). These three (3) criminal cases stem from Lim’s incessant posts made through his Facebook account and other social media platforms of false, defamatory and malicious allegations against the Bohol, 2nd District Representative. Accordingly, Lim’s posts constantly vilified Congresswoman Aumentado tainting her as corrupt and guilty of malversation; that the words he used in his public social media accounts were deliberately designed to malign, tarnish and besmirch Rep. Aumentado’s character purportedly to undermine her integrity as a public servant. Allegedly, Dan Ismael Lim’s baseless and malicious posts constitute direct attacks on the honor and reputation of Congresswoman Aumentado, and consequently, it caused disservice to the people who expect truthful and respectful discourse in the democratic process.
Congresswoman Aumentado is represented by Atty. Lord R. Marapao IV. She emphasizes that the reason she files these criminal cases is because she believes in accountability and that includes addressing malicious lies through the proper legal channels. She claims that although the resulting emotional distress, social humiliation, sleepless nights and the mental anguish she currently suffers are beyond pecuniary estimation the amount she asked by way of damages is legally justifiable. She is hopeful that, Atty. Dan Neri Lim, Arlene P. Karaan and Dan Ismael C. Lim will all be eventually held criminally and civilly liable for their illegal acts.
