Marie Lozano, host of Lifestyle Lab on Bilyonaryo News Channel and a former ABS-CBN entertainment reporter, has been acquitted of the libel case filed against her by fellow journalist Gretchen Fullido in 2018.
The decision was handed down on December 9 by Branch 85 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, with Presiding Judge Juris Dilinila-Callanta ruling that the prosecution failed to prove Lozano’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In its ruling, the court stated that Lozano’s statements were considered “qualified privileged communication,” as they were relevant to the sexual harassment complaint filed by Fullido against ABS-CBN executives Maricar Asprec and Cheryl Favila, which was then under administrative investigation.
The court further ruled: “However, this court found no evidence that the accused herein was liable for the crime charged. As such, the act or omission from which the criminal liability may arise did not exist. Hence, the accused cannot be held civilly liable.”
The dispositive portion of the decision read: “WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing disquisition, accused MARIE MILAGROS K. LOZANO is hereby ACQUITTED of the crime charged for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. No cost. SO ORDERED.”
The libel complaint stemmed from statements allegedly made by Lozano in an affidavit submitted to the ABS-CBN Ad Hoc Investigating Committee, which was probing Fullido’s sexual harassment complaint. Fullido claimed that Lozano’s remarks were defamatory and malicious, and were meant to damage her reputation.
Part of the complaint cited Lozano’s statement that questioned Fullido’s possible motive for filing the complaint, including the line: “The first thing that came to mind as the reason why Gretchen filed a complaint is that she wanted to hold on to Star Patrol.”
In its 44-page decision, the court said it found no defamatory intent in Lozano’s statements and emphasized that hurt feelings alone do not constitute libel.
Citing jurisprudence, the court explained: “The mere fact that the plaintiff’s feelings and sensibilities have been offended is not enough to create a cause of action for defamation.”
It added: “Insulting words are not actionable as libel per se, and a consequent personal embarrassment does not mean this is automatically equivalent to defamation.”
The court concluded that, based on the totality of evidence presented, Lozano’s statements were “not defamatory at all, enough to create a cause of action for defamation.”
The case spanned nearly seven years, from its filing in January 2018 until its resolution in December 2025, marking a significant legal victory for Lozano just in time for the holidays.
