Content creator Jeff Jacinto, widely known online as Ileiad, has expressed deep regret and issued a public apology to veteran actor Mon Confiado after being accused of spreading false information about the actor.
The incident, which led Confiado to file a cyberlibel complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), has caused a significant stir online.
Jacinto, who has since deactivated his social media accounts, reached out to Rappler via email to share his side of the story. He admitted that his post, which falsely accused Confiado of not paying for chocolates at a grocery store, was a mistake.
Jacinto revealed that he had messaged Confiado directly, pleading for forgiveness and asking the actor to drop the complaint.
“He messaged me, asking me to take it down, but to my mistake, I didn’t and instead explained that it was a copypasta, and that it wasn’t my intention to ruin him,” Jacinto explained, referring to the viral post that led to the controversy.
The term “copypasta” refers to a block of text that is copied and pasted across the internet, often with the intention of drawing attention, typically in a humorous or provocative manner.
Jacinto acknowledged that his decision not to delete the post immediately, despite Confiado’s request, was a significant error in judgment. The actor had publicly demanded that the post be removed, warning that he would take legal action if it remained online.
In his email, Jacinto admitted that his initial apology to Confiado lacked sincerity, as he was more concerned with avoiding legal trouble than genuinely making amends. He also expressed surprise at how quickly the situation escalated.
“Not foreseeing the repercussions, I wish I could have just taken it down the moment I saw him [Confiado] in the comments,” Jacinto confessed, adding that he did not know Confiado personally.
The issue began when rumors spread online, falsely accusing Confiado of shoplifting chocolates. Confiado quickly took to social media to refute the allegations, sharing the viral post on his Facebook page and announcing his intention to pursue legal action.
On August 12, Confiado followed through on his warning by filing a cyberlibel complaint against Jacinto at the NBI, underscoring the serious consequences of spreading false information online.
As of now, the case remains active, and Jacinto’s apology has yet to sway Confiado’s decision to proceed with legal action.
