STAND-UP comedian Alex Calleja will file a cyber libel complaint over a comedy writer’s claim that his joke in the Netflix special Tamang Panahon was stolen.
On Facebook, Calleja shared a photo with his cousin, lawyer Howard Calleja, announcing that the latter will handle his case.
“Meeting with Atty. Howard Calleja, Senior Managing Partner of Calleja Law. He will be handling my cyber libel case,” he wrote.
Adding a jab at the controversy, Calleja said, “Magpapa-carwash na rin kami after. Walking distance lang eh.”
The joke in question was: “Magpapa-carwash ako. E dahil malapit lang ang carwash, nilakad ko na lang. ’Di na ko nagdala ng sasakyan.”
Writer Chito Francisco earlier claimed he wrote that joke and posted it in 2019.
“Nanood ako ng Netflix special ng isang Pinoy stand-up comedian. Ginamit yung isang joke ko. Well, marami pa ako niyan brod. Madami ka pa puwedeng nakawin,” he said in a Facebook post.
However, Calleja refuted the accusation, stating he wrote it in 2011 while working as a writer for Usapang Lalake and Goin’ Bulilit.
“Post ko lang dito ang carwash joke ko since 2011 na nagawa ko ng writer ako sa Usapang Lalake at Goin’ Bulilit,” he said, sharing screenshots as proof.
He then warned, “Ingat po tayo sa salitang ‘nakaw.’ May cyber libel po tayo, at hindi yun joke. Remember, I have a friend.”
