The Office of the Prosecutor – Makati (OCP) rejected the cyber libel complaint against Filipino heritage advocate and Lokalpedia founder John Sherwin Felix, regarding his critique on the inaccuracies of a Filipino cuisine book published under the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) ‘Malikhaing Pinoy Program.’

In April 2025, DTI published the book ‘Kayumanggi: A Kaleidoscope of Filipino Flavors and Food Tradition,’ in relation to the Filipino Food Month.

When Felix obtained a copy of the book in September of the same year, he identified several inaccuracies written in it. This includes the classification of batwan as a legume, the use of peanuts or peanut butter as the source of color for kare-kare, and the description of tawilis, which is endemic to Taal Lake, as commonly found in rivers and lakes across the Philippines.

With these concerning mistakes, the food advocate publicly shared his findings, cited references, and called for accountability from the author, Chef Jam Melchor, DTI, representatives of the Malikhaing Pinoy Program, and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council.

However, instead of receiving clarifications, Felix was served a subpoena over a cyber libel complaint filed by Melchor. Melchor explained that he did not receive any government funding for the editorial and manuscript development of the book, saying that DTI’s involvement was limited only to its publication and distribution. He also alleged that Felix’s posts triggered accusations and personal attacks against him, including from online commenters.

Lokalpedia’s founder then filed a counter affidavit asserting that his statements were “made in good faith, without malice, and were grounded in research.”

“My intent was to call for accountability in a publicly funded project and to correct inaccuracies in the documentation of Filipino food heritage,” he said.

OCP’s decision

In a resolution released on April 15, the Makati City prosecutors dismissed the complaint against Felix, stating that the food advocate made fair commentary on matters of public interest and his statements did not establish sufficient basis for libel.

Because the statements involve matters of public interest, they were treated as qualified privileged communications, thereby shifting the burden to the prosecution to prove actual malice. In this case, the complainant failed to show that Felix’s statements were made with malice.

“Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully recommended that charge against respondent John Sherwin Felix for cyberlibel under Section 4(c)(4) of RA No. 1017 be dismissed,” the decision reads.

Accountability

In a Facebook post, Felix expressed his gratitude to Makati prosecutor’s office for upholding the rule of law and protecting his right to free expression. He also thanked those who supported him during the legal process.

“This legal battle placed significant strain on my mental health, physical well being, and finances. However, the solidarity shown by the community reinforced the importance of continuing the work of documenting and protecting Filipino food heritage,” he said.

He once again called the attention of DTI’s ‘Malikhaing Pinoy Program,’ saying that they should have released a response to the issue and they have the responsibility to ensure accuracy, accountability, and transparency in projects that are supported by public funds.

“As Filipino Food Month comes to a close, this development affirms the importance of critical discourse, accountability, and accuracy in representing our culinary traditions,” he added. “This outcome is not only a legal victory for me, but also a reaffirmation of the role of researchers, advocates, and citizens in safeguarding our cultural heritage.”

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