Ex-CIDG7 chief files libel raps vs. Malaya columnist, editors

A columnist of a Manila-based newspaper and six other executives of the publication were named respondents in a libel case filed before the regional trial court yesterday by the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the region.

Former CIDG - 7 chief Senior Superintendent Oscar Catalan claimed that columnist Romeo Y. Lim of Malaya had caused him dishonor, discredit, shame and public ridicule because of an article he wrote.

Aside from Lim, also included as respondents are Malaya publisher and chairman of the editorial board Amado Macasaet, executive editor Enrique Romualdez, editor-in-chief Joy delos Reyes, managing editor Ma. Teresa Molina, and chief of reporters Minnie Advincula and Ellen Tordesillas.

Catalan, who is now assigned in Manila, said he was shocked and angry when he read Lim's baseless and malicious article that attacked his integrity.

Lim's article, published on August 30, 2005, said Catalan was dismissed as a cadet of the Philippine Military Academy for an honor code violation.

The columnist wrote he was surprised "how someone with an honor code violation at the PMA was able to enlist in the Philippine National Police and become an officer at that."

He continued by saying "In less than two months, Supt. Catalan did something that no other PNP officer has done in Region-7. According to my Chinese friend, Catalan intercepts all container vans coming from the international port even if these vans have already been cleared, he does this every day and drops the name of PNP chief Lomibao in the process."

Cebu City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon said Lim's article made it appear that Catalan is a dishonest and a notoriously undesirable police officer, thereby discrediting and ridiculing him before the bar of opinion.

Catalan presented a certification that he was not dismissed from the PMA, but he voluntarily resigned as a cadet and was later appointed by then President Ferdinand Marcos as an officer of the defunct Philippine Constabulary.

A P10,000 bail bond was recommended for each of the respondents. - Rene U. Borromeo