Ex-governor denies he pressured fiscal to inhibit from his client's case

CEBU, Philippines – Former Cebu governor and lawyer Vicente "Tingting" de la Serna has denied pressuring a prosecutor to inhibit from the rape and serious illegal detention charges against his client.

De la Serna described the allegation as “baseless and stupid” saying that he is in no position to pressure anyone.

He likewise denied the claim of Thelma Chiong, national vice president of the Crusade Against Violence, that the accused, Charles Edward Regis Ayo is his relative.

"What clout, what influence do I have to pressure the prosecutors of the Department of Justice to do something against their will," de la Serna said.

He challenged Chiong to prove her claim that he is related to the accused.

"If she can prove that I am a relative of the accused, then magpa boy ko niya all my life," de la Serna said.

Lawyer Vicente E. Fernandez II, counsel of the complainant, said he is hoping that the former governor is really not using his influence to pressure anyone.

"His presence alone can pressure the fiscals. Ex-governor gud na siya," Fernandez said.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Ferdinand Collantes earlier inhibited himself from the rape and serious illegal detention charges against Ayo.

The defense, wherein de la Serna served as collaborating counsel, asked for Collantes’ inhibition.

De la Serna accused Collantes of being biased in handling the preliminary investigation.

Collantes inhibited last July 26, 2010 from the said case contending that "even if the motion for inhibition that was filed by the counsel of the respondent does not cite any valid grounds to justify his inhibition” he deemed it proper to inhibit himself to uphold and preserve the integrity and credibility of the panel of prosecutors.

"I still maintained that he is biased and it is decent of him to inhibit the case," de la Serna said.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Manuel Degolacion, Jr., one of the members of the panel, denied speculations that they were being pressured to dismiss the case.

"That's not true. Wala may nag pressured namo. Not true nga naay binayranay. We will decide based on the evidence not on hearsay, influence or consideration," Degolacion said.

The case was originally filed before the Carcar City Prosecutor’s Office but city prosecutor Richard Abangan, Sr. also inhibited himself.

The case was transferred to the provincial prosecutor’s office where a panel that includes Collantes and Degolacion was created.

Ayo, a 25 year old nursing student, was accused of rape and serious illegal detention by his girlfriend last April 26 in Valladolid, Carcar City. (FREEMAN)