Abalos camp to sue fake tabloid, rival bet

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of re-electionist Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. is preparing to take legal action against a fake tabloid and the camp of his rival for allegedly circulating a bogus survey in a bid to “win the hearts of the city’s electorate.”

In a press conference at the Mandaluyong city hall Friday, Nandy Charvet, Abalos’ campaign manager, showed members of the media a copy of Pinoy Expose’s March 13 issue showing Vice Mayor Danny de Guzman, a mayoral candidate and Abalos’ rival, led a survey conducted by the Republic of the Philippines Survey.

“Mayor Benhur Abalos is really disturbed by this claim since it is not true and should be straightened out,” said Charvet.

Neither the tabloid nor the survey firm is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, Charvet said. Abalos’ camp claimed that the tabloid has no editorial box.

He said their legal team, led by lawyer Rene Sta. Maria, is studying possible legal actions against the newspaper and possibly the camp of De Guzman for publishing the “deceptive article.”

Charvet alleged that the tabloid was being distributed by an employee at De Guzman’s office.