Teddy O's daughter-in-law slaps dyHP anchor with libel

The family of Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano has filed three counts of libel case against anchorman Joash Dignos for his alleged malicious statements during his "Birada Balita" program over station dyHP of Radio Mindanao Network.

Cheryl Zoleta-Ouano, the daughter-in-law of the mayor, filed the complaint yesterday claiming that she personally heard Dignos attacking her and her family "below the belt" during his morning radio program. Dignos program is aired from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. every Monday to Saturday.

Cheryl, who is Ouano's executive secretary since 1998, is the chairperson of Mandaue City Sports Commission.

She alleged that while listening to Dignos' program on July 13, she heard the broadcaster "discredit, defame and dishonor her and her family" by saying that she had sex with her father-in-law.

She claimed that Dignos even shouted with laughter and disdain the defamatory words, "opisyal sa usa sa mga dakbayan sa Metro Cebu ni-ger-ger sa iyang umagad!"

Their lawyer, Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, translated the statement as: "A public official in Metro Cebu had sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law."

Cheryl said the defamatory statements clearly referred to the "public official" as "Mayor Thadeo Ouano" and the "daughter-in-law" as her.

She also alleged that on July 14, Dignos repeatedly announced in his program, "opisyal nga ni-jer-jer sa umagad, mata na!"

On July 17, Cheryl alleged, Dignos maliciously commented, "Thadeo, di jud ka momata diha, Thadeo? Unsa man nagtinambaloslos ka diha Thadeo Ouano? Ikaw kaning gikaingon nga chief executive nga ni jer-jer og umagad."

Cheryl said Dignos' statements depicted her as a whore and shameless woman who was having sexual intercourse with her father-in-law. Her husband, Provincial Board Member Alfred Francis Ouano, sits as town councilor of Consolacion and president of Philippine Councilors League-Cebu Chapter.

"Joash Dignos had unlawfully and publicly uttered the afore-stated slanderous words, not in response to his social and official duty but they were intended solely for the purpose of exposing me and my family to public hatred, social humiliation, contempt, disrespect and ridicule," Cheryl said in her affidavit.

She recorded Dignos' alleged defamatory statements and requested a certification from the National Telecommunications Commission.

After hearing the tape, the mayor's wife, Linda, described Dignos as an "evil creature" that must be punished, saying that, "no amount of money can repair the damages."

Dalawampu said the complainant did not state the amount of damages, and that the case did not include the station.

Dignos and dyHP station manager Cynthia Barte refused to comment on the case as they have yet to read the complaint.

Dignos has been a commentator of dxCC, the sister station of dyHP in Cagayan de Oro City. He was transferred to Cebu City a month ago to temporarily replace regular anchor Rufil Bañoc, who is on leave for the bar review. - Gregg M. Rubio