DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 January) — Junior Ortiz Digamon, senior broadcaster and station manager of 93.1 Brigada News FM–Davao, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Davao on Monday morning, following his conviction for Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act.
In a statement, Atty. Glenda Narcilla-Yuson, the station’s corporate legal counsel, said the station respects the ruling of the lower court and upholds the rule of law, emphasizing that Digamon is entitled to pursue legal remedies, including post-judgment motions and appeal.
In an order dated January 16, 2026, Hon. Jacqueline A. Labustro-Garcia, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) 11 Branch 6 of Davao City, ordered Digamon arrested after finding him guilty of Section 12 in relation to Section 14 of R.A. No. 11313.
Section 12 defines gender-based online sexual harassment as “acts that use information and communications technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological, and emotional threats, unwanted sexual, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist remarks and comments online, whether publicly or through direct and private messages,” among others.
Yuson said that Digamon’s voluntary surrender to NBI-Davao “reflects his respect for the law and his sense of responsibility as a journalist and as a citizen.”
She said that the “commentaries” of the broadcaster, which led to the legal battle, arose “from complaints brought to the station by members of the public seeking assistance” and were made “in the course of his work as a journalist and were not motivated by any personal conflict with the complainant.”
“At the same time, Brigada News FM remains mindful of its duty of care to its people, while upholding respect for the law and due process, and acknowledging the difficult realities faced by journalists working in a democratic society,” she said.
According to a statement issued by The Law Firm of Torreon and Partners, counsel for the private complainant, the MTCC’s decision “brings long-awaited vindication for an ordeal that began two years ago, in January 2024, when she was publicly humiliated, sexualized, and ridiculed in a live broadcast while simply performing her duties as a public attorney.”
“While we respect the accused’s constitutional rights and the remedies available to him under the law, this case stands as a clear reminder that there are limits to what may be said or done in the name of commentary, humor, or entertainment,” the statement added.
It also said that “misogyny and sexual degradation cannot be justified, excused, or concealed by invoking the mantle of journalism.”
According to the statement, Digamon’s conviction “affirms that the remarks made were not protected journalistic expression, but constituted unwanted, sexualized, and degrading statements directed at an identifiable woman and disseminated through online platforms with wide reach.”
It added that “no invocation of public service, humor, banter, or audience engagement can convert gender-based harassment into protected speech,” and that “freedom of expression does not include the right to demean, sexualize, or humiliate another person.”
“The Safe Spaces Act exists precisely to draw that line, especially in online and broadcast spaces where harm is amplified. The Court’s ruling confirms that accountability attaches not to the profession of the speaker, but to the nature and effect of the act itself,” it added.
The law firm added that it will pursue the other pending cyber libel case against Digamon.
On September 27, 2024, authorities arrested Digamon on the same charges at the Brigada News FM-Davao station, on the third floor of the ECI Building in Ulas, this city. He was released later that day after posting bail amounting to ₱24,000.
After his release, Digamon posted on his Facebook account on September 28, 2024, which reads: “Fyi: ayaw mog post nga tawagong Pangit, putot, lisngag ug ilong, tambuk kay maona akong kaso karon gender-based sexual harassment (Fyi: don’t post items calling someone ugly, short, flat nose, fat because I was sued for gender-based sexual harassment based on these).”
“Makasuhan kaha ko kung muingon kog seksi pero tambuk kaayo siya, 6-footer pero putot diay, guapa pero laksut diay!! wala na ang honesty ani (Will I be sued if I say sexy even if fat, six-footer even if short, beautiful even if ugly!! Honesty is gone),” Digamon said in another post. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
