Lawyer puts up bail to avoid arrest  for oral defamation

A lawyer who is facing criminal charges for accusing a female police officer of planting illegal drugs on his client yesterday put up a bail bond to avoid being arrested once the court issues an arrest warrant against him.

Lawyer Alex Tolentino, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines - Cebu City chapter, has put up a P6,000 bail bond anticipating that once the court issues a warrant against him, the police might intentionally serve it during weekends to ensure that he will be detained.

Tolentino must have changed his mind since he earlier told The Freeman that he is ready to be handcuffed by the policemen who will serve the warrant in full media coverage.

The case stemmed from the criminal complaint filed by PO2 Jerybel Lerio of the Cebu City Police - Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch.

Lerio said on July 27 the lawyer threatened to sue her after accusing her of allegedly planting evidence against Tolentino’s clients, Emerita Bontuyan and Alma Ledamo.

The police officer also accused Tolentino of taking out the case records which were about to be filed in court against the drug suspects that afternoon.

The government prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation of the police officer’s complaint said that to accuse someone of planting evidence is “definitely a case of grave oral defamation.” 

Municipal Trial Court in Cities judge Monalila Tecson, however, has yet to issue a warrant for Tolentino’s arrest. — Rene U. Borromeo