Mayor Cari files libel raps vs. backers of opposition

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines  — Mayor Carmen Cari of this city has filed a libel complaint against two supporters of a would-be candidate for the mayoralty in the 2013 elections.

The mayor filed the case before assistant provincial prosecutor Rosulo Vivero last September 12 against Alvin Truya and Jose Cala III for allegedly fabricating lies that she received a P3-million bribe from a company, which operates a mall in Cebu City, in exchange for a contract to do business in the city.

A media personality who used to be the executive secretary of a DyHP top official in Cebu, Truya is now the official spokesperson of Marilou “Malot” Veloso-Galenzoga, who has openly declared she is running against the incumbent mayor.

Truya had also made statements that if Ms. Galenzoga will not be able to complete her slate, he is willing to make the sacrifice of being her runningmate. The two also have talk shows on the local Radyo Natin station, the only one in the city.

Truya was a recipient of best in radio educational program award last year, given by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma during the Cebu Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Cari, in her complaint, alleged that Truya and Cala posted on the group page—Kapihan sa Baybay and Panahon na Bangon Baybay—a photocopy of a P3-million Chinabank check that she reportedly got from the mall chain company, allegedly as bribe. To support the claim, they also posted a “contract” making it appear it was entered into by the two parties after the payoff.

The posted check and contract elicited quite a number of comments, some harshly ridiculing her and causing her shame, said the mayor, adding that these were “deliberately done to shame her.”

Cari’s lawyer Avito Cahig, Jr., said they filed the libel charge against Truya as administrator of the FB group and Cala, as the alleged source who possessed the “clear copies” of the posted check and contract, purportedly according to a barangay councilman and a known supporter of Galenzoga herself.

The posts have since been deleted, according to some members, but Cahig said they were able to get screen shots of these already, aside from other documentation.

Cahig said this is a test case on libel for Facebook in the Philippines. While the country still has no definitive laws on libel with the use of social networking sites, the Revised Penal Code has expressed provisions on maligning people on print and other sorts of publications, he added.

Truya, when contacted to comment on the matter, said: “We have not yet received a copy of any complaint. But as one Cebuano politician once said, ‘They have the right to their own entertainment.’” (FREEMAN)