Cops to sue woman for libel

CEBU, Philippines - The police are filing a criminal complaint for libel against the woman who allegedly maligned three policemen on her Facebook account by posting pictures and accusing them online of not paying the food they ate from a siomai vendor at the downtown of Cebu City last week.

Chief Inspector Jose Gesto, acting station commander of the Waterfront Police Station where the three policemen are assigned, said they will file the complaint for violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 against Junali Patores Relampago before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Gesto said the decision to file a case came after the siomai vendor, Renante Batucan, came to the open to defend the policemen following the accusation on facebook.

Relampago posted on her facebook account a picture showing two of the three policemen---Police Officer 1 Jonathan Cabañero, PO1 Palicarpo Barliso Jr. and PO2 Lolito Bustria.

She claimed that the three policemen ate siomai with them at the downtown area together with a “sexy” woman. After eating, the policemen reportedly left the food cart without paying their order.

The post went viral online triggering condemnation from the netizens against the police officers. In fact, the incident has prompted calls for investigation.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella urged the Cebu City Police Office to look into the incident because of speculations that the vendor might have been harassed to come out to clear the policemen involved.

Engineer Eugene Elizalde, chairman of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, said the issue will be discussed today during their meeting wherein CCPO director Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela Jr. is a member.

However, Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas said he does not want dignify speculations that the vendor may have been coerced into defending the policemen.

“Based on the facts, ang kanilang ina-allege is against the police at ang dami pa’ng sinabi tungkol sa pulis. Tapos, di-negate nung tao na concerned, na binilhan talaga ng pulis. So as far as I’m concerned, tapos na yun,” Bañas said.

The regional police commander said he does not want to dignify the speculations.

“Ay yun, marami nang pwede-pwede o baka-baka, ayoko nang patulan iyan. I just have to consider what is there,” he said, adding that it was Batucan who really has the authority to tell everyone that the allegation was not true. (FREEMAN)