Arrest warrant out vs 5 Lapu-Lapu captains

CEBU, Philippines —  A Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of seven barangay captains in Lapu-Lapu City who are being sued for grave oral defamation by Mayor Junard Chan.

Lapu-Lapu City RTC Branch 53 Presiding Judge Anna Marie Militante issued the warrant of arrest on May 13, 2022.

Named accused are barangay captains Eduardo Cuizon (Bankal), Eleonor Fontanoza (Gun-ob), Regina Ybañez (Looc), Triponia Abayan (Tungasan), Joselito Tibon (Subabasbas), Reynaldo Tampus (Canjulao), and Rosalino Abing (Maribago).

Judge Militante fixed the bail for the release of the accused at P36,000 each.

The case stemmed from the criminal complaint filed by Chan on March 15, 2022 against the said barangay captains for allegedly committing grave oral defamation under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code and violating Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

On Feb. 9, the accused led by Cuizon, who is the president of the City’s Liga ng mga Barangay, filed a complaint against Chan and nine others for allegedly violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation of Public Funds and Sections 3 and 4 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, over the purchase of more than P47 million worth of food items and non-food relief items from a supplier identified as a furniture exporter.

In filing the said criminal case, Chan alleged that the barangay captains willfully and deliberately attacked his reputation by making defamatory utterances, maliciously and with evident ill-will.

Chan said the statements made by the accused were clearly “unfounded and untrue” and were made to debase and malign the hard work of the mayor.

Chan on March 8, 2022 also filed criminal case for the crime of perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code against the seven accused. – JMD (FREEMAN)