IS PUTANG INA MO AN ACT OF SLANDER?

Putang ina mo! We often hear these offensive and unpleasant words in arguments and quarrels. Today, I am confronted by the issue as to whether or not “putang ina mo!” constitutes an act of slander.

Slander is the oral imputation of a crime, or a vice or defect, real or imaginary that tends to cause dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a person. This is otherwise known as oral defamation (RPC 358). In order to prove slander, there must be an oral defamatory imputation, malice, and an identified or identifiable victim.

Oral defamatory imputation is committed when things are said to a person that will bring shame or humiliate him. It is necessary that there is a malicious intent on the part of the accused. Expressing one’s opinion is actionable, if and when, the intention is to discredit.

Putang ina mo, as a rule, is merely an expression of disgust or displeasure and does not in itself constitute an oral defamation (Reyes v. People, GR L21528-29). The word “putang ina mo” when said in an argument does not connote an imputation of prostitution but merely a turn of phrase to show dislike to the person. Nevertheless, other antecedents like circumstances, time, place and relationship are to be considered. Even if the word putang ina mo is not definitely defamatory, the surrounding circumstances should be taken into account to make the person liable. The act, for instance, of searching the victim in the presence of her other employees were considered as indirect imputations of theft which she said she suspected the victim to have committed (People v De Guzman, GR L19075).

Therefore, putang ina mo, per se, does not consist slander but other surrounding circumstances may prove the crime.