Sandigan drops libel suit vs Bejo

The Sandiganbayan dismissed yesterday a libel suit against Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, ruling that it lacks jurisdiction over the case.

The anti-graft court granted the motion filed by Romualdez to dismiss the case lodged against him by Victor Domingo, the mayor’s co-chairman in the Regional Development Council.

In a 12-page resolution, Associate Justice Rodolfo Palattao, of the Sandiganbayan’s fourth division, said the Regional Trial Court, not the anti-graft court, should handle the case.

Domingo sued Romualdez for libel for calling him "a problem person, a liar, drug addict, silly, crazy and no good person" during an interview with Bombo Radyo on Aug. 29, 2000.

The mayor also reportedly described Domingo as a "disgrace to the RDC and an ingrate."

Domingo had been critical of Romualdez for being absent from RDC meetings. — Jose Rodel Clapano