Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, has lodged a cyberlibel complaint against blogger Sass Sasot, alleging that she posted defamatory content about him on social media.
Filed at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, the complaint accuses Sasot of spreading false claims via Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). According to Tarriela, Sasot implied—without directly stating—that he was involved in bribery, corruption, and misconduct, including accepting $4 million in “talent fees” from the U.S. and cash from House Speaker Martin Romualdez. She also allegedly branded him a “Philippine Military Academy cheater.”
“These statements were carefully crafted to damage my reputation while skirting explicit accusations,” said Tarriela. “But taken as a whole, it’s clear they were meant to tarnish my character.”
In response, Sasot acknowledged Tarriela’s right to file a legal case. She stated she would respond once formally served, noting she currently resides outside the Philippines.
Tarriela is also seeking over ₱1 million in damages, insisting the allegations are baseless and defamatory.