NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — A regional trial court here has sentenced two blocktime broadcasters to eight years in prison for maligning North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza on social media.

Mendoza, who is on her third and last term as governor, sued Larry Subillaga and Eric Rodinas for accusing her on Facebook of corruption and for insinuating that she pocketed government funds earmarked for projects in the province.

Rodinas, whose Facebook account is named Sherwin Dugaduga, is connected with Radyo Natin, an FM station in Kidapawan City, while Subillaga is a freelance broadcaster and social media blogger.

Judge Jose Tabosares of RTC Branch 23 in Kidapawan City, the capital of North Cotabato, said in the ruling dated March 23, 2019, that Rodinas and Subillaga are guilty of violating Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

They were sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and fined P1 million each.

The STAR tried but failed to reach the duo for comment.