No malice in photos, Capitol exec says

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol official who is facing controversy after photos of him and a woman surfaced online said there was no malice in the pictures, albeit the woman isn’t his wife.

Lawyer Orvi Ortega, chairperson of Capitol’s committee on discipline and investigation, said Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena has explained during a fact-finding investigation last January 8 that it is “normal” for the woman in the photo to pose “provocatively” with her male friends.

In one photo, Saragena wraps his hand around the woman’s waist with the woman wearing nothing but a two-piece swimsuit. In another, the woman is sitting on Saragena’s lap.

The photos appear to have been taken at the beach, which were reportedly taken two years ago.

Ortega said Saragena was able to provide photos of the woman with similar gestures with other men.

“Normal ra daw na niya (woman) everytime magpa-picture siya, paraygon kaayo.  (What) he (Saragena) is trying to drive to the CODI nga katong mga pictures dili ingon nga naay malice. Giingnan pud daw siya pag-picture nga ibutang iyang kamot sa waist sa babaye,” Ortega told reporters.

Ortega said Saragena’s wife even executed an affidavit supporting her husband’s explanation despite her having been reportedly mad when she learned about the photos.

The wife said she came to know the woman when she transacted with them for the sale of a house and lot in Cordova town.

“Gipakita pud sa affidavit sa asawa nga nagkaila ni sila pud sa katong business dealing nga sila may broker sa pagbaligya. Ang asawa ni Saragena gani ang involved pud sa transaction,” Ortega said.

After the property was sold, the woman reportedly threw a party and invited Saragena and his wife but the latter failed to attend. This was when the controversial photos were reportedly taken.

Ortega, however, said that the committee failed to ask the wife if she was aware of the photos before they found their way online.

The woman in the photo also executed an affidavit before the investigating committee but failed to attend the hearing last Wednesday to verify the same.

“Di namo ma-consider iyang affidavit kay wa man siya ka-identify,” Ortega explained.

The investigating committee will convene again on Wednesday to deliberate the matter and to determine if probable cause exists to charge Saragena.

“Among i-evaluate kung unsa man gani puy appropriate nga charges ipasang-at batok kang Dr. Saragena. What we are doing right now is fact-finding investigation pa man,” Ortega added. – Michael Vencynth H. Braga/JMO (FREEMAN)