Fiscal inhibits from libel case Osmeña filed against Guardo

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon yesterday inhibited from handling the libel case filed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña against businessman Jonathan Guardo to dispel any suspicion of bias or partiality in the handling of the case.

Sellon explained that even without touching the merits of the said motion, he deemed it “more appropriate to inhibit from the case out of delicadeza and leave the task to any other office of the prosecution service as the Honorable Regional State Prosecutor may determine.”

The city prosecutor said he is forwarding the records of the case to Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane for appropriate action.

Earlier, Guardo said he wants all city prosecutors to inhibit from the libel case filed against him by the mayor, saying they will be biased because they are getting allowances from the city government.

Guardo said he would prefer any prosecution office to handle the case as long as it does not receive any cash allowance from the city.

According to him, the P5,000 monthly cash allowance given to each city prosecutor will hinder the prosecutors from rendering an impartial decision.

Osmeña has filed a libel case against Guardo and two other journalists who wrote news articles on the latter’s allegations that the mayor prohibited Guardo’s supporters from delivering relief goods to the fire victims in Barangay Calamba.

The mayor also impleaded Sunstar news reporter Rene Martel and editor-in-chief Pachico A. Seares.

Guardo is running against Osmeña for the congressional seat of the city’s south district in the coming May elections. —Jasmin U. Labaco/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)