Efforts to pursue legal remedies against social media personality Xian Gaza may extend beyond Philippine borders, according to Michelle Dee’s legal team.
Attorney Maggie Garduque said they are prepared to request the issuance of an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice if circumstances require it, particularly if a court issues a warrant of arrest against Gaza while he remains overseas. Reports indicate that Gaza is currently in Thailand for business.
Garduque recently accompanied Dee to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division, where a supplemental affidavit was filed in connection with a cyber libel complaint lodged against Gaza. The complaint stems from online posts that Dee claims contain false and damaging claims about her.
In an Inquirer.net report, Garduque explained that an Interpol red notice could allow foreign authorities to arrest an individual abroad once a warrant has been issued in the Philippines.
“Siguro po we will just force all law enforcement agencies para makagawa ng paraan. Kung kinakailangan ng red notice sa Interpol para po –since hindi lang naman ito ang kanyang kaso at may ibang mga kaso at may pending warrant of arrest pa po siya, pwede na po nating ipa-alarma sa Interpol para po ma-issue-han siya ng red notice at maaresto siya kahit wala siya sa Pilipinas,” she said in a report by INQUIRER.
In a separate Viber message, Garduque clarified that any application for assistance from Interpol “may be coursed through our law enforcement agencies in the Philippines.”
She further stated: “This is in the event the case of Xian Gaza reaches the court and a warrant of arrest will be issued to him. Since he is not in the Philippines, we will apply for a red notice so that he will be brought back to the Philippines to face all the charges against him.”
Garduque also pointed to an alleged alias warrant related to a syndicated estafa case involving Gaza, adding, “This and the cases which Michelle will file against him will be a good ground for him to be put under red notice.”
Court records show that in 2018, the Malabon Regional Trial Court convicted Gaza of estafa over bounced checks amounting to P2 million and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison.
Earlier, on February 16, Dee personally went to the NBI to file her cyber libel complaint against Gaza and other individuals on Facebook who she alleges spread fabricated information. According to Garduque, some of the posts claimed that Dee had traveled abroad to evade a case.
“These post are made with knowledge na hindi totoo ang mga ito…Recently may mga post pa siya regarding sa sinabi daw ng nanay niya, ni Melanie Marquez, sa isang film producer na sinasabing bata pa si Michelle ay nagkamali siya,” Garduque said.
“This can be tantamount to a defamatory imputation,” she added.
Separately, the NBI has issued a subpoena requiring Dee’s appearance in connection with allegations of physical injuries and illegal detention filed against her, along with Rhian Ramos and Samantha Panlilio. Garduque said she will represent Dee before the NBI on Friday, February 26, in compliance with the directive.
