Solon files disbarment case vs Roque over malicious attacks

MANILA, Philippines — A solon on Monday filed a disbarment case against fellow party-list member, Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque for allegedly spreading lies and malicious accusations against him.

Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo filed his complaint against Roque before the Supreme Court. He said Roque relentlessly spread lies and malicious accusations and attacked his integrity and reputation which is not expected from a lawyer.

Aside from Roque, Salo also sued the former’s lawyers Joel Butuyan and Rommel Bagares. Butuyan is Roque’s law partner whom Salo claimed published his fellow party-list member's false accusations in his own column in a daily broadsheet. On the other hand, Bagares is Roque's chief of staff, from whom the latter allegedly obtained his information.

In his complaint-affidavit, Salo cited that Roque repeatedly tarnished his reputation by alleging that he received bribes from then Rep. Romeo Jalosjos when he was Undersecretary at the Office of the President to ensure the grant of presidential pardon by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Roque alleged that Salos’ sister’s house was built through those supposed bribes.

Roque also allegedly spread that Salo masterminded the entry of illegal drugs, firearms and other contrabands inside the New Bilibid Prison as well as constructed convict Herbert Colanggo's recording studio as a preacher and chair of the Bureau of Corrections Love Foundation. Roque also said Salo was indicted with plunder by the Justice department and was issued a warrant of arrest, which was denied by the complainant.

“Obviously, these lies and malicious accusations were spread by Roque just to destroy my reputation and to discredit me from the members of Kabayan Party-list,” Salo said.

Salo also complained that Roque went as far as making personal allegations concerning his marriage, which caused emotional pain to him and his wife.

According to Salo, he already started receiving reports on Roque’s tirades as early as the campaign period for the May 2016 polls. However, since he already acceded to Roque’s pleas to be included as one the Kabayan’s party-list nominees, he could not understand why Roque would launch “unwarranted” attacks against him.

Salo said that lawyers have a duty to observe proper decorum at all times as he condemned Roque’s slanderous attacks.

“Evidently, Atty. Roque's expertise is to weave lies, twist facts, sow intrigues, insinuate illegality and ultimately destroy a person’s reputation, certainly the attributes of morality debased person and certainly not belittling an officer of the court,” Salo said.

“Indeed, the lies that Atty. Roque has concocted and has spread are just too many and deplorable that any moment longer of his stay in the bar is not just a disgrace but an insult, the men and women who strive to live according to the tenets of their oath as lawyers,” he added.

Early December, Kabayan board members formed a three-man special investigation committee headed by Pastor Cesar Pabuayon and board members Pastor Peter Parrocho and lawyer Eduardo Robles to look into the “vulgar and sexist” remarks of Roque. Roque is facing a possible removal from his post due to his “indecency” during a House inquiry. — Rosette Adel