Ex-union official pleads not guilty to libel complaint

CEBU, Philippines - A former official of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) yesterday pleaded not guilty to a libel case filed by a member of the Aboitiz family.

Joy Lim, former ALU-TUCP spokesperson in Central Visayas, claimed innocence in the complaint for libel filed by Jose Aboitiz. Lim’s co-accused Casmero Mahilum, president of the Visayan Electric Company Employees Union, was not arraigned yesterday because he did not have a lawyer to assist him.

Regional Trial Court Branch 23 assisting Judge Lauro Andres Castillo has reset Mahilum’s arraignment on July 16 to give him time to look for a counsel.

The case stemmed from Lim and Mahilum’s alleged defamatory remarks against Luis Alfonso Aboitiz on May 1, 2009.

Jose, brother of Luis, filed the complaint against Lim and Mahilum for besmirching the reputation of his sibling who died a year before the alleged defamatory remarks were made by the accused.

In his complaint, Jose alleged that the accused helped each other in causing the defamatory remarks to be printed and circulated to the press.

“Lim distributed a press release dated May 1, 2009, which contained derogatory remarks against Luis Alfonso, who died last May 17, 2008,” Jose said.

Both accused denied the case claiming that they were only expressing their sentiments over the alleged unfair labor practice committed by the management of VECO, which is owned by the Aboitiz family.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, despite the denial, found probable cause to hold them in trial. (FREEMAN)