Tracker member files libel raps vs. newspaper, cop

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the now defunct Tracker Team, an anti-crime volunteer group, yesterday filed two counts of libel against a police official, a local newspaper, a reporter and his publisher.

Rafael Enriquez, who was quoted in newspaper report having identified a fellow anti-crime volunteer as the one who allegedly mauled to death a robbery suspect, named Chief Inspector Bonifacio Garciano, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, Cebu Daily News and its reporter Chito Aragon and publisher Eileen Mangubat as respondents.

A separate complaint for one count of libel was also filed against another CDN reporter Andrea Pateña.

Enriquez denied CDN’s report written by Aragon saying he has executed an affidavit identifying Pedro Tianar as the one who mauled theft suspect Joven Tejano.

Tejano died of severe injury while in detention at the Fuente Police Station.

According to Enriquez, the “said news item is false” and has allegedly damaged his reputation and that of his family. He claimed the report has also caused him sleepless nights.

The complainant cited in his complaint his affidavit dated July 14, 2011 which Jean Tejano Heruela used to support her complaint before the Cebu City Police Office.

Enriquez said he never mentioned Tianar or Peter Piañar Jr. or anyone as the one who mauled Tejano.

 “I am one of the active church lectors at Redemptorist Parish Church for more than ten years now and that due to those baseless accusations my credibility of being a reader has been tainted,” Enriquez said.

The alleged false report has also tainted his leadership as executive vice-president of JCI Cebu Sinulog Inc.

“This horrible experience of being falsely accused has caused my subordinates to doubt my leadership,” his affidavit reads further.

In a text message, the CDN publisher said they have not received a copy of the complaint yet.

“We still have to receive a copy of the complaint and will refer it to our legal counsel before giving comments. So far, CDN news stories of the violent death of a robbery suspect in Fuente Police precinct have been based on interviews of police officials and the victim’s family, and sworn statements of witnesses,” Mangubat’s text reads.

Garciano on the other hand said he will reserve his comment as soon as he receives a copy of the complaint. (FREEMAN)