Saturday, March 03, 2007 Radaza files wiretapping case v. King brothers
LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Arturo Radaza yesterday filed complaints of grave threats and violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law against businessmen-brothers Richard and Rafael King.
Radaza was accompanied by his wife Paz, his witness Mark Stevens Weigel, his lawyer Richard Sison and some officials when he submitted the complaint at City Prosecutor Evangeline Gicale’s office.
The wiretapping complaint was supported by a video footage of the conversation between the Kings and contractor Nelson Yu. In the footage, the contractor revealed that Radaza allegedly asked for three percent or P15 million out of the P500 million worth of City Government projects awarded to him.
Weigel, son of former mayor Ernest Weigel Jr., stated in his affidavit that Richard gave the video to him and told him to show this to the mayor so that he will stop pursuing cases against the Kings’ properties in Lapu-Lapu.
The Kings own a chain of hotels and motels.
In an interview, Weigel said he considered Richard’s move as blackmail, which prompted the mayor to file the complaint. Sison said they will file more civil and criminal cases but he declined to discuss details.
Richard sent a text message saying he is fighting only for good governance. He renewed his challenge to Radaza to a public debate in any language and let the people decide who is telling the truth.
Challenge
Richard earlier made a similar challenge when they made public the existence of the DVD.
His lawyer Deolito Alvarez said they already expected the mayor’s move.
The King brothers represented J. King and Sons Inc. when they filed last month civil and criminal cases against Radaza and other Lapu-Lapu City officials.
The cases stemmed from the demolition of a foreshore property, reportedly owned by the Kings; the planned demolition of the Kings’ badminton and tennis courts beside their Crown Regency Hotel; and Yu’s allegation.
The courts have yet to resolve these cases.
Warning
In his complaint, Radaza cited Section 1 of Republic Act 4200, which penalizes wiretapping.
The mayor was referring to the footage of the conversation between Kings and Yu, which he said was taken sometime in February 2006. He said the Kings gave Weigel a copy of the footage last year with a warning.
When City Hall demolished last Feb. 9 the marina in Barangay Agus, which the Kings said is their property, the brothers distributed DVD copies of footage the day after. (OCP)
