Capitol lawyer cries foul, warns to sue broadcaster

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Capitol legal officer Orvi Ortega yesterday threatened to sue radio commentator Bobby Nalzaro for libel if the latter continues to shame him in public through his radio program.

“Wala pa ko’y intention mo-file niya (Nalzaro) og kaso. Og di gihapon ko undangan, magkita na lang mi sa korte kung mao na iyang gusto,” said Ortega in a press conference at Sacred Heart Center yesterday.

Ortega said that for the moment, he and his lawyer are collating pieces of evidence for the libel case he plans to level against the broadcaster.

Ortega alleged that for a month, Nalzaro used his program in dySS and his column piece in one of the local dailies (not The Freeman or Banat News) to allegedly malign his name and of his family.

Nalzaro allegedly lambasted him for rigging the bidding for security services for Capitol and let the Black Pearl Security Agency won.

“Sa mga birada ni Mr. Nalzaro, iyang gibalik-balik nga gi-rig kuno ang bidding. Sa mga kadaghan nako’g gibalik-balik nga naa diha ang taga (bids and awards committee), June Sepe, lawyer Mark Tolentino. Wa’y usa kanamo ang nasayud kung unsay gamiton nga tie breaker until the day came. So, kung way usa namo nga nasayud, unsaon man namo pag impluwensya?” he explained.

Ortega further said that although he is chairman of BAC, there were a number of them who decided what their next action would be once there was a tie.

Ortega said he does not mind if Nalzaro would stick to the issue of the bidding process, but the broadcaster allegedly went overboard and attacked his person and family, so that he allegedly had no choice but to react.

The Capitol lawyer further said that for the many times Nalzaro attacked him, he was only interviewed once.

Further, Ortega negated Nalzaro’s allegation that he received a P206,000 kickback or P1,000 from each of the 206 blue guards of Black Pearl, which he reportedly used to buy a new sports utility vehicle.

“I would like to challenge Mr. Nalzaro to execute an affidavit. Wa ko kadawat bisag usa ka dako, mamatay man ko karon dayun,” he said, adding that he acquired his car through loan and the down payment was reportedly from the sale of the family’s canter and of his old car.

What pained him most, Ortega said, was when Nalzaro allegedly went on to attack his family. Ortega’s entire family came to support him.

Ortega said it is either politics or a subsequent result of the controversial bidding that is behind the attack.

“Laktod pagkastorya sa akong pagtan-aw ang rason nganong giatake ko: nagpaluyo usa sa mga niapil sa bidding, gustong mobalos nako, o mahimong threat sa politika or possible, usa ka demolition job or pinaagi kanako buot nilang pasakitan ang gobernador,” he said.

For his part, Nalzaro challenged Ortega to name the people he alleged that were behind the “demolition job.”

“Is he insinuating that I’m paid? I challenge him to name names. Unsay intention aning grupo (to order him to attack Ortega). Ang governor na lang atong atakehon,” Nalzaro said.

Nalzaro admitted that he is friends with owners of all security agencies involved in the bidding; hence, he does not care whoever wins among them.

As to Ortega’s threat of a libel case, Nalzaro said the lawyer can go ahead, “it’s a democratic country.”

The broadcaster further denied that he included Ortega’s family, but he was sorry if they were hurt.

Nalzaro said that despite Ortega’s threat, he will still continue attacking on the Capitol lawyer’s “questionable conduct,” which is “staining” the governor’s good reputation.

“I challenge him to resign as BAC chairman and even as the Capitol legal officer, to spare the governor,” he added. — (FREEMAN)