Prosecutor downgrades case vs 2 commentators

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office downgraded the case that the National Bureau of Investigation had filed against the two radio blocktimers who were arrested over the weekend for alleged extortion activity.

Instead of the robbery/extortion case that the NBI had filed against Reynante "Rey" Cortez and Lito "Bingbong" Solon, assistant city prosecutor Patrick Osorio lowered it to only grave threats, a case which is only cognizable by the municipal trial court in cities (MTCC).

Osorio, during inquest investigation, said there was no force and intimidation used by the accused when they allegedly extorted money from Philippine Reclamation Authority director Elberto Emphasis. He even recommended a bail of only P2,000 for each of the two broadcasters.

MTCC Executive Judge Oscar Andrino, however, increased the bail to P4,000 each for the accused. Andrino flared up upon seeing that a release order was already prepared fixing the bail at P2,000 each.

Solon and Cortez eventually posted bail, prompting the NBI to release them at past 5:00 p.m. yesterday.

The downgrading of the case by the City Prosecutor's Office disappointed the NBI operatives. One of the agents even commented that it would encourage more unscrupulous mediamen to continue with their extortion activity because of the very light case it entails.

Cortez told The Freeman immediately after their release that they are planning to file counter-charges against Emphasis for harassment.

Cortez and Solon were arrested in an entrapment operation by the NBI operatives at a restaurant inside a mall last Friday following Emphasis' complaint.

Emphasis said two weeks ago, he was informed that he was being subjected to foul commentaries by the accused on air. He immediately inquired from the National Telecommunications Commission and learned that Cortez and Solon were branding him as theft, swindler and crazy.

Emphasis stressed that he already filed a complaint before the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas. His complaint, however, remains pending.

Emphasis said he later learned that all Solon and Cortez wanted from him is money.

Through an intermediary, Emphasis said he was able to arrange a meeting with the two radiomen, who demanded P20,000 from him allegedly to defray the expenses they incurred in their radio programs.

He claimed that Solon and Cortez told him that they would only cease from attacking him if he would pay the amount. Thus, an entrapment was arranged upon the order of NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda, who is the acting deputy director for regional operations service.

Meanwhile, urban poor leader Edward Ligas yesterday filed a libel case against Solon and Cortez.

Ligas alleged that Solon and Cortez tagged him on air as being an errand of Emphasis, adding that the two uttered defamatory words against him and accused him of having received money from former Bureau of Customs district collector Lourdes Mangaoang.

According to Ligas, he would only withdraw the case if the two would defeat him in a fistfight. - Fred P. Languido/LPM