Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Fiscal inhibits from libel raps By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
CITY Prosecutor Jofre A. Saniel inhibited from the libel case filed by Councilor Jesus Zozobrado against a blocktime radio announcer who allegedly aired libelous remarks about his involvement in a terminal scam.
In a letter submitted to Chief City Prosecutor Raul Bendigo, Saniel said the complainant is his very close friend.
"I will reassign the case. It also depends on the load and who is supposed to handle the case," Bendigo told Sun.Star Davao.
Zozobrado sued Jongjong Suico, a blocktimer with a program called Abane Mindanao.
He accused Suico of putting him in shame when the broadcaster repeatedly charged him over his program of allegedly accepting money from the Metro Davao Transports Terminal, the overland terminal for vans at the SM City compound.
Bendigo said a prosecutor inhibits from further investigation of the case if one thinks that there is a bond between the prosecutor and the complainant.
"I am also seeing to it that no complaint will come from the complainant in the handling of the case. It's also difficult if they were former enemies, so bias might be seen," Bendigo said.
The case filed by Zozobrado will then be assigned to City Prosecutor Victoriano Bello.
"Whoever deserves to handle this kind of case, the case will be definitely reassigned," Bendigo added.
The case was filed with the City Prosecutor's Office in the middle of last month when talks broke out that four councilors received money from the transport terminal.
