Chavit files P20-M libel suit vs accusers

Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson filed a P20-million libel suit against former provincial board member Efren Rafanan and 11 others at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday for openly naming him as the brains behind the ambush-killing of the latter’s family.

In a six-page affidavit-complaint, Singson belied the accusations of Rafanan, saying that the false pronouncements made by the respondents has caused him and his family "unwarranted dishonor."

"I was forced to file this libel suit because the respondents have been hitting me on radio and various fora for the past two years," he said.

Other respondents included Nestor Segismundo, president of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance (SISA) and 10 officers of the group.

Singson based his complaint on the almost daily announcements over Ilocos Sur radio station dzXE that he masterminded the ambush. Also cited in the complaint were the press statement issued by Rafanan, the shirts worn by protesters during a rally at Camp Crame last May 12 and news articles in major broadsheets.

He said Rafanan, who hosts a radio show at dzXE, repeatedly aired statements naming him as the brains behind the killings.

Singson also noted the inflammatory words and design printed on the shirts of the protesters at the Camp Crame rally. On the shirts were the words "Down with Chavit" with a "scurrilous acronym" for his nickname. At the back of the shirts were the letters C for corruption, H for hypocrisy, A for arrogance, V for vice, I for immortality and T for treachery while at the front was a picture of Chavit with words "Suspect # 1, mastermind March 31 massacre."

He added that broadsheets published stories of the Camp Crame rally, where Rafanan, Segismundo and 10 others openly accuse him of masterminding the ambush-slay.

"I suffered moral damages consisting of mental anguish, social humiliation and embarrassment, considering my personal and social standing," Singson pointed out.

Rafanan’s wife Evelyn, son Raffy Bryan, brother Dennis, and security aide Elgin Ocampo were killed in an ambush while on their way to dzXE last March 31.

Rafanan and his daughter Renalyn survived the ambush.

Rafanan claimed he was the target of the attack, which was meant to "silence" him. He alleged the ambush could only be planned by Singson, claiming the former governor wanted to stop him from exposing anomalies in the province. – Katherine Adraneda