Ex-employee sues Mabatid for defamation

CEBU, Philippines —  A former employee of Cebu City Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid, who earlier sued her before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly making her staff at the council work in her private business, yesterday filed a libel and oral defamation complaint against her before the Office of the City Prosecutor.

“Councilor Mabatid gave several media interviews after my complaint came out. And the first thing she did was to defame my person and honor. She called me ‘alcoholic’, ‘lazy’, and that ‘no one would hire me because I have attitude problem’, among others,” read the complaint filed by Roldan De Los Reyes.

De Los Reyes said Mabatid “orally maligned or smeared my person and honor”, adding that the councilor wanted to destroy his credibility and honor as a person.

He cited the statements Mabatid had given the local dailies on September 21, 2020, or the day his complaint against her was made known to the public.

“I really felt that she destroyed my credibility. She maligned me in public. She wanted the public to believe that I am an alcoholic, lazy, that I have attitude problem, and that no one should hire me. It is really painful on my part. It caused me so much stress and sleepless nights,” the complaint read.

“It is painful because all I did was to try to make right the wrongs councilor Mabatid did. She cannot just attack and malign me like that. If she thinks what she is saying about me is true, then she should channel that in the right forum. But definitely not on social media, and definitely not through the print media,” it further read.

‘That’s his prerogative’

Mabatid, who earlier denied the allegations of De Los Reyes in his complaint filed before the Ombudsman, expressed her sentiment on the new complaint filed against her by her former employee. “Well that is his prerogative. But it is public knowledge especially government employees that he is one. Siya pay nauwaw sa iyang kaugalingon binuhatan? Wa na gyud lain mo dawat ana niya ug trabaho. Makita ra na ang katag later,” Mabatid said in a text message.

To recall, De Los Reyes sued Mabatid for dishonesty and gross negligence in the performance of her duties and for alleged violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act.

"The local government is trying its best to curb the spread of COVID-19 by requiring its employees to stay at home and only leave their homes just when absolutely necessary. Councilor Mabatid, on the other hand, has made it obligatory from her staff, under the Cebu City Hall payroll, to go around the city and office of Cebu in order for her chicken and meat business to profit," read the complaint filed by De Los Reyes before the Office of the Ombudsman.

De Los Reyes said that because he refused to follow the councilor's orders to work in her business, Mabatid reportedly issued a memorandum addressed to the Human Resource Development Office dated May 28, 2020, requesting for his termination for "lack of trust and confidence."

Mabatid confirmed that De Los Reyes was terminated but denied the allegations in his complaint. — JMD (FREEMAN)