Tommy O's issues with mediamen

Mr. Nalzaro cannot make up his mind.

In his column today, he implies that the libel case I filed against him are baseless and "should be thrown in a garbage can."

On the other hand, he brags that he has fifty lawyers preparing his defense. Fifty lawyers for a garbage case?

To remind the reader, I filed 38 administrative cases against Cebu City Treasurer Diwa.

Nalzaro said that some of these cases are fabricated. That's why I sued. In short, he is calling me a liar. I am exercising my right to defend myself for a change.

Then, Mr. Valeriano Avila comes to Nalzaro's defense with a dedicated column entitled "Libel is a threat to Press Freedom." See? It now appears that Press freedom should include the freedom for Mr. Nalzaro to lie.

All I want is to clearly show the Cebuanos that I did not fabricate any case against Treasurer Diwa. Mr. Nalzaro now has fifty lawyers studying 38 cases for alleged fabricaton. He needs 50 more. The more lawyers he gets the more I can demonstrate to the Cebuanos that I fabricated nothing.

To this date, he still cannot point out which case he claimed I fabricated. He is still looking. That's an endless search. This is not endless love but endless hate from Mr. Nalzaro.

Detained volunteer teacher asks help from Pope Francis

"I believe that we are one in the cause of justice for the poor people. With this, I appeal for your help for the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines," thus wrote detained volunteer teacher Rhea Pareja, one of the 491 political prisoners in the Philippines, in a letter to Pope Francis.

Political prisoners wrote letters for the Pope, in time for His Holiness' upcoming visit to the Philippines in January 2015. Among those who appealed for the intercession of Pope Francis for their release are Maria Miradel Torres and Andrea Rosal, both were pregnant during their illegal arrests and are currently detained with Pareja at the Female Dormitory of the Taguig City Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa.

In her letter, Pareja, 26, said she was a volunteer teacher who was participating in the Adult Literacy Program of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers when she was arrested in March 15, 2010 in Mulanay, Quezon.

Evidence was planted against Pareja, which is why she asserts that the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives are all fabricated. She was also charged as an NPA member, with the military coining various aliases placed in her name.

She experienced physical and psychological torture while in detention, while her belongings were taken away from her, including money meant for the education program for students in 18 barangays in Quezon.

"I have been in jail for nearly five years, and during my detention, I have suffered from tuberculosis," Pareja added, citing difficult and unsanitary conditions in jail.

KARAPATAN