Facing a P3.5-million judgment he says he cannot afford, comedian Anjo Yllana plans to challenge the ruling before a higher court, questioning whether TVJ Productions ever sustained the financial harm the award was meant to compensate.
The former “Eat Bulaga” host laid out his position in an interview on “Ogie Diaz Inspires,” saying he intends to contest the amount. “Masyadong mabigat kaya nga mag-a-appeal ako,” he said.
Central to his objection is the legal basis for the payout. Yllana argued that damages awarded to a company imply the firm lost money, a premise he rejects. “Although sabi nila damages sa kumpanya. So ibig-sabihin kapag sinabi mong damage sa kumpanya nalugi sila. Hindi naman nalulugi ang TVJ, so may ganun akong gusto iklaro sa upper courts,” he said.
He framed his original remarks as an expression of feeling rather than an attack warranting such a penalty. “Hindi nga ako nag-mura eh. Naglabas lang ako ng emotions. So baka, too harsh, masyadong mabigat yung parusa,” he said, adding that he would consult his lawyer with the aim of elevating the matter to the appellate courts.
Yllana pushed back on the notion that his conduct rose to the level of a serious offense. “Pakiramdam ko kasi, may pinatay ba ako? Meron ba akong ninakaw? Meron ba akong nilapastangan? Meron ba akong ni-rape? Meron ba akong binugb_ og?” he said, listing crimes he had not committed.
The dispute traces back to livestreams Yllana aired on TikTok and Facebook in 2025, during which he alleged that a “syndicate” was operating inside the noontime program. According to the Manila Bulletin, his broadcasts also included a claim that Senator Tito Sotto kept a mistress, an accusation the veteran host denied.
Presiding Judge Gloria Monica S. Lopez of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court, Branch 279, handed down the 18-page decision, which TVJ Productions made public on June 30, 2026. Beyond the monetary award, the court imposed a permanent injunction barring Yllana, his representatives, and anyone acting for him from posting or re-uploading defamatory content about the company and the show across social media platforms.
The Asian Journal reported that the injunction stops short of a blanket ban on Yllana speaking about the program, applying only to statements that directly damage the established goodwill or brand equity of “Eat Bulaga.” The court also noted that it made no finding on whether his allegations were true, confining its ruling to the question of whether TVJ Productions deserved civil relief.
