Oral defamation plaint dismissed

CEBU, Philippines - For her failure to substantiate her allegations against Lapu-Lapu City Health Officer Dr. Rodolfo Berame for grave oral defamation, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas dismissed the complaint filed by a midwife.

Graft investigator Jane Aguilar found no evidence to indict respondent for allegedly maligning the complainant, Julieta Covington, who works as a midwife of the City Health Office of Lapu-Lapu City, in front of the public.

“Covington had not supported her charges for grave oral defamation by clear and convincing evidence. Aside from her self-serving, unilateral assertions, she did not present any other witness even if she had asserted that there were other employees, who attended the staff meeting, when Dr. Berame allegedly called her corrupt,” the resolution read.

Based on the complaint filed by Covington, she alleged that on Apr. 27 to 29, 2011, she attended a convention of midwives organized by the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives, Inc. in Bacolod City.

Covington said her travel was duly approved by the respondent. However, she said when she asked for reimbursement upon her return, the latter asked her why she kept on insisting for the reimbursement when he did not approve her travel.

Covington added he told the respondent that it was her right to be reimbursed of her travel expenses because it was an official travel but the latter change the tone of his voice.

The complainant said the respondent then approached and forcibly pushed her saying “Go away! And get out from here!”

Covington said during the monthly staff meeting held in their office at Olango Island dated June 4, 2011, Berame mentioned how she allegedly insisted on getting a refund for her travel.

In the middle of the meeting, Berame allegedly told her that she was corrupt.

“I was so humiliated and embarrassed of his comment that I immediately left the room. I was told that Dr. Berame continued to discuss my personal concerns with the group after my exit,” she said.

Covington said her husband sent a letter-complaint before the Office of the Mayor but no settlement was arrived.

In his counter-affidavit, Berame stated that early in the morning of May 31, 2011, Covington came to his office and insisted on her request for reimbursement.

However, he said he told complainant to wait for its release and to follow up the reimbursement in the administrative staff.

As to the issue of he directed the complainant to leave, Berame said this came after the latter allegedly tried to hug him as if they were close friends.

Moreover, he said the complainant has already received the check for the reimbursement of her travel expenses.

Aguilar, in her seven-page resolution, said that based on the evidence at hand, the complainant failed to support her charges. —BRP (FREEMAN)