Prosecutor in Nogie libel case to be named

REGIONAL State Prosecutor Antonio Arellano said that he will release Wednesday the regional order designating an acting Davao city prosecutor to conduct the preliminary investigation on the case filed by House Speaker Prospero Nograles against a writer and a publisher.

Arellano said he has no reason to inhibit from the case because he will not be the one who will conduct the investigation.

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Davao city chief prosecutor Raul B. Bendigo earlier inhibited from the case and endorsed it to the RSPO because Nograles is Bendigo's brother-in-law.

The respondents -- Roger Balanza and Edgar Velez -- of the Durian Post, a weekly newspaper, were earlier charged with libel for allegedly maligning the Nograles' reputation.

Nograles, in his affidavit, cites February 15-21 and February 22-28 issues where he claimed Balanza destroyed his reputation.

He said the respondent identified him as a candidate for mayoralty race who engages in vote-buying to win in the local election.

He added that there were other articles in the issues of Durian Post written mostly by Balanza which discredit, defame, dishonor, and destroy his reputation.

Contrary to established practices of journalism, he said, there was no effort on the part of respondents to get his side on all stories.

Balanza, meanwhile, said he will face the charges saying it is just part of his job.

He earlier said that he was just doing his job to give information on political issues to the public to guide them in making the right choice this coming elections.

Balanza said it was just straight reporting and done without malice.