The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 144 has issued a gag order against Tessa Prieto-Valdes, prohibiting her from making public statements about the case she filed against her ex-girlfriend, Angel Chua, with the Makati Prosecutor’s Office.
The order follows an urgent motion by Atty. Alexander Llanes Acain Jr., citing Prieto’s violations of the sub judice rule, which restricts public comments on ongoing judicial proceedings to preserve their integrity.
The ruling comes after Prieto participated in an online interview with journalist Joan Maglipon, where she made public comments related to the merits of her case. These statements were widely shared on February 10, 2025, across the online platform and social media accounts of Pep.ph.
The enforcement of this gag order aims to ensure a fair and impartial judicial process as the case progresses.
Chua, from a prominent and well-respected Chinese family, expressed her support for the gag order, stating it will protect her from harassment and misinformation.
Such orders, she added, prevent what she described as “diarrhea of the mouth” in media, urging focus on more pressing national issues rather than personal disputes best handled in court.
Atty. Acain also emphasized the necessity of the gag order, saying that it ensures a fair legal process, free from public speculation and undue influence.
