Mayor’s son sues Nalzaro for libel

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s son, Miguel, has filed a criminal complaint for cyber libel against veteran journalist Pablito “Bobby” Nalzaro for allegedly maligning his reputation.

Miguel said Nalzaro, in at least two newspaper columns published last month, implicated him in the illegal butane refilling business.

Nalzaro’s articles entitled “Projecting a Pro-poor” and “Mikakak man diay” accused Miguel of having a stake in the illegal business allegedly owned by the political ally of the mayor.

“…former political has-been has never refuted the information we revealed in our previous column about the butane canister refilling business owned by his ally, a businessman.  His son, Miguel, is also reportedly a stakeholder of the business. The former political has-been is no longer holding his daily press conference and has refused to answer questions from the media. Why? Because he cannot explain or deny it,” Miguel quoted a portion of Nalzaro’s column.

Nalzaro criticized Miguel’s father for running after businessmen who failed to pay the right taxes but allegedly protecting the illegal business.

In his column entitled “Mikakak man Diay,” Nalzaro accused Miguel of being part owner of the butane refilling business owned by a certain Peter Osmeña Visitacion.

“Sus, kamaayo mo drama. Are you projecting a pro-poor image because the elections are fast approaching? Stop fooling the Cebuanos. Why don’t you tell them that you helped the three persons arrested for refilling butane canisters because they worked for your businessman-ally. Peter Osmeña Visitacion, the manufacturer of those illegal butane products where your son, Miguel, is a part owner,” Miguel quoted the column of Nalzaro in his complaint.

Miguel denied any involvement in the illegal butane refilling business.

“I have been striving to keep my name untarnished for the past 30 years. As a private citizen, I believe it is my right not to be maligned in public by media personalities like Bobby Nalzaro,” he said.

Lawyer Amando Ligutan, Miguel’s legal counsel, said accusing his client of being involved in the illegal business can never be justified.

“Bobby Nalzaro cannot take refuge under his freedom of speech because Miguel Osmeña is a private citizen. We will hold Bobby Nalzaro accountable for his transgression of free speech,” he said.

Nalzaro, a known critic of Osmeña, said it is Miguel’s right to file a case against him and he is ready to face the complaint in the proper forum.

“Well, that’s his right. I will answer the complaint in the proper forum,” Nalzaro told The Freeman. (FREEMAN)