Libel case filed vs. Veco union president, ALU-TUCP leader

CEBU, Philippines - A libel case was filed before the Regional Trial Court against two labor union leaders who allegedly made defamatory remarks last year against the late Luis Alfonso Y. Aboitiz.

City Prosecutor Nicolas C. Sellon recommended a bail of P10,000 each for Casmero A. Mahilum, president of the Visayan Electric Corporation Employees Union (VECEU) and Joy Lim, directress and head of the education and information department of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) before the Regional Trial Court.

Earlier, Sellon found a probable cause against the two after they circulated a press release attacking the late Luis Alfonso Aboitiz, whose family manages the local power distributor Veco.

It was Jose Y. Aboitiz, brother of Luis Alfonso, who filed the libel complaint against the two. In an affidavit submitted to the Prosecutors Office, he stated that Lim distributed a press release dated May 1, 2009, which contained derogatory remarks against Luis Alfonso, who died last May 17, 2008.

Aboitiz said that Mahilum and Lim helped each other by printing and circulating the press release that adversely affected the reputation of his late brother.

Lim and Mahilum submitted a joint affidavit to explain that during last year’s Labor Day celebration, they took the opportunity of expressing their sentiments and to show to the rest of the local unions and affiliates of ALU-TUCP what they said were unfair labor practices committed by the Visayan Electric Company (VECO)

But the Aboitiz family members were offended by Lim and Mahilum’s attacks and went ahead with their complaint.

After a review of the evidence presented, the City Prosecutors Office ruled against the labor officials.

According to the city prosecutor, the dead could no longer defend himself. The prosecutor’s office also stressed that no one has the right to defame the deceased. —THE FREEMAN