Judge inhibits from libel case vs. Nalzaro

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Judge Generosa Labra has inhibited voluntarily from the libel case against broadcast journalist Pablito “Bobby” Nalzaro.

“Considering that the accused and the private complainant are both friends of the undersigned and earnest efforts exerted by her to reconcile their differences failed, in order to avoid doubt or an iota of suspicion, viz-a-viz the outcome of the case, the undersigned presiding judge voluntarily inhibits herself from hearing the merits of the above-captioned case,” Labra’s order reads.

She recommended that the case be forwarded immediately to the Office of the Clerk of Court, so it can be re-raffled to the sala of another judge.

The order was issued on September 18.

 Nalzaro was charged for libel filed by former congressman Tomas Osmeña for allegedly maligning him in his newspaper column.

 Nalzaro, in turn, questioned the case and has asked the court to junk the same. His lawyer pointed out that only the signature of acting city prosecutor Jesus Rodrigo Taga-an appears in the information sheet forwarded to the Regional Trial Court when it reportedly should have the approval of the Regional State Prosecutor.

 Osmeña alleged Nalzaro degraded his reputation when the latter alleged in his column that he filed fabricated cases against officer-in-charge Cebu City treasurer Diwa Cuevas.

 “Tomas is moving to sabotage Mike’s administration. Unfortunately, because of his obsession to get back at Mike, many innocent people got caught in the political crossfire. An example is OIC city treasurer Diwa Cuevas. Tomas filed several administrative cases against her. Some of those cases were based on fabricated charges,” the article reads.

 Osmeña said the article “unjustly imputes” that he fabricated charges against Cuevas. He added the administrative charges he filed against Cuevas were based on the 2012 and 2013 audit reports of the Commission on Audit.

 Nalzaro denied the accusations filed against him, claiming he has no malice in the used of word “fabricated” in his column. —/JMO (FREEMAN)