Town councilor files suit against colleague

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly calling him “corrupt,” a councilor of Compostela town has filed a criminal complaint against his colleague.

Councilor Mario Paradiang alleged that the utterances of his colleague, Tessa Cang, caused him dishonor.

“I was humiliated, hurt and victimized by a person, who, with all intents and purposes, is a colleague and whom I have treated only with respect and justness,” he said.

Cang allegedly uttered such defamatory words at   the police station of Compostela in the presence of police officers and others on October 13, 2013.

“That her defamatory remarks, has no basis in law nor in fact and comes only from a conscienceless and evil intent to humiliate and disrespect an honorable man, performing his duties,” he said.

Paradiang alleged that Cang’s utterances “born out” of her anger after he caused the arrest of Germilito Duran whom he caught in the act collecting lumber in violation of the law.

The complaint was originally filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas however, the said office forwarded the same to the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for having jurisdiction over the matter.

“Respectfully forwarded to Hon. Pepita Jane Petralba, provincial prosecutor, Cebu Provincial Prosecution Office, for appropriate action, the herein criminal complaint of Mario Paradiang against Tessa Cang, councilor, Compostela, Cebu, subject matter within your jurisdiction and competence and you can rule thereon with finality in pursuance to OMB-DOJ Memorandum of Agreement,” read the endorsement letter of Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol. (FREEMAN)