Council to Tom: File libel case vs. Guardo

CEBU, Philippines - The City Council has authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to file a criminal complaint for libel against businessman Jonathan Guardo for accusing the city of trying to stop the latter’s distribution of rice to fire victims in barangay Calamba two weeks ago.

The Council approved the filing of the complaint through a resolution filed by Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. during its regular session yesterday. The resolution was passed sans any deliberation. In fact, Osmeña told reporters about the Council’s decision even before the session started yesterday.

Guardo is Osmeña’s opponent in the congressional race for the city’s south district.

Osmeña said he has gotten used to Guardo’s “lies,” but the recent allegation reportedly filled his patience to the brim because it is attacking the integrity of the city government. The mayor said Guardo allegedly spread the information purportedly to make the fire victims get angry at him and the other city officials.

Aside from the authority from the City Council, Osmeña said the city attorney’s office has also given him the go signal to pursue with the legal action against Guardo.

Guardo, for his part, said he is not afraid of the case. He also challenged Osmeña to file as many cases as the mayor would want against him, saying, “Pilde ang pikon. Kun mapriso ko, hinaut unta nga iya kong duawon sa prisohan.”

Guardo reiterated that the city stopped the distribution of rice, as well as the implementation of his other projects.

“I’ll say it 10 times. City Hall stopped all my projects. Gikan na sa akong ba’ba. I won’t have to prove it,” he said.

Guardo said it was his political leader in Calamba, Cora Lim, who informed him that one of the barangay tanods there stopped the distribution of rice.

But Osmeña said it would be impossible for him to stop the distribution because he only learned of the activity from reporters who were interviewing him while he was heading to the mountain barangays for a “pulong-pulong.” — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)