Nestor Punzalan files online libel complaint vs. Top Gear Philippines editors at NBI

Editors of Top Gear Philippines on Friday are facing an online libel complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation from the man it mistakenly identified as the killer of a biker in Manila on July 25. 

Named respondents in Nestor Punzalan's complaint are Vernon Sarne (Top Gear Philippines editor-in-chief), Dinzo Tabamo (online associate editor), Tracy Carpena (online managing editor), Jeffrey Reyes (publisher) and Adelbert Christopher De Jesus (digital publisher). 

"All of the above elements (for online libel) are present (such as) imputation of a discreditable act or condition to me by respondents when they they linked my personal Facebook page without any valid basis and even before the authorities are able to conclude their investigation as the person involved in video of a gruesome murder they earlier posted when the truth and in fact, I nor my Hyundai Eon are not in any manner or measure involved and even if assuming my motor vehicle was involved, no official report linked my person to the incident," the complaint read. 

Punzalan, who personally filed the complaint, also asked Sarne to resign even if the latter already apologized for erroneously tagging him as the owner of the red Hyundai Eon which figured in the road rage incident. 

Police later found out that it was ex-Army reservist Vhon Tanto who killed cyclist and gaming attendant Mark Vincent Garalde and injured female bystander following a road altercation in Quiapo, Manila. 

Authorities cleared Punzalan of any wrongdoing but only after he experienced scathing comments and threats to their security on Facebook . 

Sarne said on July 27 that he was taking "full responsibility" for posting the link to Punzalan's Facebook profile and photo of the car. 

"The buck stops here. This is all my fault," Sarne said, adding he shouldn't have done it. —JST, GMA News