Cop indicted for libel

The Office of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor has elevated to court a formal case for libel against a policeman who accused his former police chief of allegedly receiving bribe money from illegal activities in Carcar town.

SPO1 Roland Navales allegedly uttered the defamatory statements during an interview over radio station dyLA last May 30.

Prosecutor Jose Renegado said Navales “willfully and feloniously and with malicious intent caused to be interviewed in a live radio broadcast” where he spoke against former Carcar police chief Jason Mangaron.

In that radio interview, Navales alleged Mangaron received bribe money from operators of cockfighting, masiao and “hantak” in Carcar town.

“Ah…kahibalo ko ana sir…pero tungod kay respetar pud ta nga…kanang opisyal siya…sa iyahang pagka-opisyal nirespetar pud ta ani niya…so karon sir…murag tan-aw nako di man mahimo na kay murag kami may iyang gigukod noon…nga nagtinarong mi sa trabaho…” Renegado quoted the radio interview.

“Ah kita pwerte natong paningkamot ug panakop…diha gani untay dakop namo sa masiao…gilain niya kay iyang gusto ipa-release…” Renegado quoted another statement in the interview.

Mangaron also alleged that Mangaron allegedly filed a case against him and his fellow policemen with the Office of the Provincial Investigation Detective Management because Mangaron allegedly did not approve of the arrest of those involved in masiao operations.

“Gusto niya ipa-release mao to nga suko siya…iya ming gi-faylan ug kaso napud…sa opisina ni Col. Siclot dunay pre-charge…duna mi nahibaw-ang dunay pre-charge investigation namo bahin anang dakop namu sa masiao…” Navales further said in the radio interview.

Aside from Navales, the prosecutor’s office also charged a certain Gregorio “Boy” Abadilla, who divulged Mangaron’s alleged link to illegal activities during the interview.  - Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP