Sogod mayor charges political rival for libel

Sogod mayor Thaddeus Durano has filed four counts of libel against his political rival and the town's former vice mayor, Dean Dosado, and demanded P1 million in damages

The case stemmed from Dosado's claim to the media that Durano made money out of the substandard water works system of the municipal government.

In his two-page affidavit attached to the complaint filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Durano said Dosado made false and malicious accusations to malign his person.

Durano demanded that Dosado should be "condemned to pay P1 million damage to teach him a lesson."

Durano cited The Freeman banner story last December 15 on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' order for the water system to desist from operation after high level of coliform was found in the water.

The news item quoted Dosado as saying: "Mao ni sakit kaayo nga paminawon nahurot nalang ang P30 million nga loan ang it turned out nga dili diay mainom ang tubig."

According to Durano, Dosado has insinuated that the water system is substandard. In fact, Dosado already went to the Office of the Ombudsman to complain but the anti-graft body dismissed the case for lack of basis.

Durano said Dosado again made a malicious accusation against him over a local television newscast on December 18. The following day, Dosado was again quoted in The Freeman report as saying: "Kami nagduda nga ang filtrations ug chlorinator basin na punta sa bulsa 'ron."

The same allegation also came out in the other local daily a day after The Freeman reported it. Durano said the accusations made by Dosado were totally baseless and malicious.

The mayor said records at the Land Bank of the Philippines, which granted the P30-million loan to finance the project, showed that the money was directly released to the contractor. Durano said his office did not have any hand in the release of the funds.

Dosado ran for mayor in Sogod in the last election but lost to Durano. - Fred P. Languido