Petralba inhibits from libel case filed against two broadcasters

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba has inhibited herself from handling the libel case filed by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez against former Compostela town mayor Gilbert Wagas and veteran broadcaster Antonio Avila.

Petralba yesterday endorsed the records of the case to regional state prosecutor Antonio Arellano for him to reassign it. She said she decided to inhibit from the case to avoid suspicions of being bias because she had acted as lawyer of Sanchez during the last elections.

Petralba explained that it has been her self-imposed rule to inhibit from cases involving her former clients. In fact, she also inhibited from the case on the robbery of the Bogo branch of Land Bank of the Philippines in which her former client was implicated.

Sanchez earlier filed three libel cases against Wagas and Avila for allegedly maligning over the radio his reputation and the corporation he has founded.

The respondents, who are hosting a 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. program over dyCM based in Bogo, allegedly uttered slanderous and defamatory words against Sanchez and the corporation of which he is the president.

Avila and Wagas, in their program on January 31, March 14 and 17, allegedly accused Sanchez of deceiving the public through his health products.

The two reportedly commented that the vice governor made it appear to the public that his lacto products are medicine when in fact they are just food supplement. - Fred P. Languido