Paz sued over child’s death

CEBU, Philippines —  Lapu-Lapu City Representative Paz Radaza is now facing P1 million suit for moral damages over the death of a 12-year-old boy who was electrocuted inside her property in Barangay Tungasan on Olango Island earlier this year.

The complaint was filed by the child’s mother, Rosie Taneo, on August 14, 2020 before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office.

The caretaker of Radaza’s rest house, Ricardo Inoc, was also implicated in the murder complaint.

Radaza received the subpoena from the City Prosecutor’s Office on August 25, giving her 10 days to answer the allegation hurled against her.

The complaint stemmed from the death of Ren-Ren Taneo on May 29, 2020.

Ren-Ren reportedly climbed over the fence of Radaza’s property to get some mangoes with his friend, Leo Apa. However, he was electrocuted after coming in contact with the live wire while  inside the property.

Rosie, in judicial affidavit-complaint, said her son’s cause of death was “shock secondary to electrocution.”

Countercharges

The congresswoman said she was shocked to find out that Rosie, a barangay utility worker, filed the complaint against her.

She said she was not even at the rest house when the incident happened.

“How could I be charged for murder nga wala gani ko didto paghitabo ana? Brutal ra sad kaayo na ilang pasangil nako. Mura man og ilang gipagawas nga gipakurentehan nako ang bata (The charges are brutal. It’s like they are making it appear that I intended to electrocute the child),” she said.

Radaza said she had not visited the house on the island since April last year.

She lives in Barangay Mactan.

For “tainting” her reputation, Radaza said she might file countercharges against the mother.

“Kani ilang gibuhat pagpakauwaw lang nako. Murder gyud ilang gikiha nako? Grabe na man sad na ilang pasangil nako (They are trying to embarrass me. Really, murder? That’s way overboard),” Radaza said in yesterday’s virtual press conference.

“Ako ni-murder sa bata? Di sad tawon ko ing-ana. Sayon-sayunon lang ko nila og ingon nga nipatay gyud ko. Pinangga ko ng mga bata (I murdered the child? I’m not like that. They are very quick to throw charges at me. I love the children),” she added.

Radaza said she extended help to the parents, her political supporters. She said she spent for the child’s wake, paid for the coffin and gave cash aid to the family.

“Mao na nga na-shock ko nganong gikiha ko nila og murder,” she said.

Radaza said her lawyers are now preparing the answer to the complaint which is due next week.

The congresswoman is confident that the case would not prosper at the prosecutor level.

“The case will not prosper as this is very far from the truth,” she said.

The FREEMAN tried to contact Rosie for comments. But one of her children said the family will not answer interviews until the case is over.

Politics?

“Possible this case is political motivated,” Radaza said adding that Taneo’s lawyer, Emergilio Ybalez, is also the same lawyer who assist complainants, mostly supporters of Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, in filing cases against her.

Radaza cited the following cases filed by several complainants whom Ybalez allegedly assisted:

On May 7, 2019, few days before elections, a case before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was filed against Radaza regarding the alleged ghost repair of a grader. Radaza, during the time as a mayor, filed a case against the contractor. This case was withdrawn by the present administration.

On July 11, 2019, a case was filed by three complainants, who were reportedly known supporters of Chan, before the RTC Lapu-lapu City to nullify ordinance providing Radaza’s district office at the City Hall. Chan has also ordered Radaza to vacate the said office.

On July 16, 2019, a case before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was filed against Radaza regarding an alleged diminished Ironman funds.

The FREEMAN tried to get reactions from Ybalez but he was not available as of this writing. — JMD (FREEMAN)