Aglipayan bishop indicted for libel

An  Aglipayan bishop was charged of libel for writing to a Cebuano couple a letter that allegedly demanded the latter to stop an alleged extortion activity against the members of the church.

Cebu City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon approved the filing in court of the criminal case for libel against bishop Nilo Tayag of the Iglesia Catolica Filipina Independiente.

The case stemmed from Tayag’s letter dated March 22, 2006 to couple Rolando and Lezyl Jayme, whose address is at the Philippine Long Distance Telephone company Lahug branch.

The letter demanded that the Jayme couple “stop fabricating lies” against the Aglipayan members, Leonila Sulib and Belinda Lobite.

Tayag, also the national chairman of the Kilusang Pilipinismo, accused the Jayme couple of extortion activity together with then assistant city prosecutor, now Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, and lawyer Gregorio Escasinas.

A copy of the letter was furnished to Gubalane, lawyers Rose Arnado Dy and Escasinas, and Regional Trial Court judge Olegario Sarmiento, Jr.

Lezyl Jayme said she was shocked to read the letter of Tayag because she and her husband were accused of fabricating lies against Sulib and Lobite.

“ It is therefore reiterated that all of you, together with Fernando Gubalane, 2nd assistant prosecutor and Atty. Gregorio Escasinas, to stop this extortion. Engage in money-making somewhere else legitimately,” Tayag’s letter read.

Jayme said they were humiliated and exposed to public ridicule because copies of the letter were furnished to other people.

The Freeman tried to get Tayag’s reaction about the libel case against him. Repeated calls through his cellular phone failed because it was out of service. — Fred P. Languido/RAE