THE Court of Appeals dismissed a petition filed by two entertainment editors of a tabloid newspaper in connection with the libel case lodged by multi-awarded actress and television host Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan against them in 2002.

In a four-page decision, the court’s eleventh division junked the petition for certiorari filed by Bandera editors Lito Bautista and Jimmy Alcantara questioning several orders of a Mandaluyong City judge, since the case had already by dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Cuneta filed a case against the tabloid editors in February 2002, after Bandera ran articles written by Pete Ampoloquio—in March and April 2001—which allegedly dishonored her name.

The articles allegedly described the actress as hypocrite, ingrate and brain-dead.

While several pleadings were pending before the appeals court, Bautista and Alcantara sought help before the High Tribunal.

The High Court issued its October 24, 2012 decision, granting the petition of the two editors.

The court reversed the decision of the appellate court, which ordered the trial court to receive evidence and consequently, it reinstated the order of the regional court dated April 25, 2008, which dismissed the two criminal cases for libel against the editors.

Because of this, the appellate court held that there is no cogent reason to rule on the matter as the court had already acquitted the petitioners.

“In the light of the foregoing developments, the petition has already become moot and academic since the criminal actions for libel against petitioners which are also the subject of the case before this court, had already been ordered dismissed by the Supreme Court,” the ruling, penned by Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez, stated.

Concurring with the verdict were Associate Justices Magdangal de Leon and Stephen Cruz.

In its decision, the tribunal slammed the lower court for the lapse holding that Cuneta’s petition should have been dismissed outright.

The court further ruled that Cuneta had no legal personality to assail the ruling of Judge Rizalina Capco-Umali of Branch 212 of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaluyong.