Court shoots down sedition charge vs. barangay captain

Embattled Basak, Lapu-Lapu City barangay captain Isabelito Darnayla was all-smiles after the sedition case lodged against him was dismissed in yesterday's pre-trial conference.

Regional Trial Court Branch 53 judge Benedicto Cobarde dismissed the case after First Assistant Prosecutor Jesus Rodrigo Tagaan moved for the withdrawal of its information.

Tagaan's move followed after their office received a "Review Order" from the Ombudsman-Visayas endorsing back the complaint for further investigation of the case.

Acting upon the motion, Cobarde then allowed the withdrawal of the information and ordered the dismissal of the case.

Cobarde also ordered the release of the P16,000 bail posted by Darnayla and the P12,000 bail posted by his co-accused, barangay councilor Alberto Ochea and supporter Crisanto Augusto.

"I am so happy that the case is dismissed. It only goes to show that I have not done anything wrong," Darnayla told The Freeman as more than a hundred of his supporters trooped to the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice to show their support.

Darnayla said his legal counsels Celso Espinosa and Bernardito Florido are now preparing counter-charges against their opponents, including Mayor Arturo Radaza.

On February 16, Darnayla, Ochea and Augusto had pleaded not guilty to the charge lodged against them by the Lapu-Lapu City police.

Darnayla was charged with sedition after he allegedly stopped the storm drainage project of the city government with force on February 6.

Darnayla vehemently denied the accusation, saying that he opposed to the project because many of his constituents will lose their livelihood once it pushes through. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan