Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Slander case v. Cagas son gets prosecutor's nod
THE provincial prosecutor of Davao del Sur has recommended the filing of a criminal case against the only son of Representative Douglas "Dodo" Ra. Cagas for badmouthing another congressman and his father-in-law.
Charged before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Hagonoy-Matanao, Davao del Sur for grave oral defamation is Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV.
The complaint was filed by Eugenio "Enying" Derequito, father-in-law of Representative Claude Bautista.
Derequito is the biggest stockholder of the Rural Bank of Digos, which has a networth of P380 million. He also owns Davao del Sur biggest fishponds, aside from being part owner of the La Suerte Gallera cockpit in Matina, Davao City.
The filing of the case in court was recommended by Prosecutor 1 Teresita T. Manabeng-Recto and approved by Provincial Prosecutor Artemio A. Tajon.
Records of the case indicated that Derequito filed the complaint after learning of the verbal attack of the young Cagas against the Rural Bank of Digos in a speech before women in Barangay Savoy, Hagonoy town on January 12.
The young Cagas charged that the "Kaulos" (Tagacaulos), indigenous people of Malita, have been victimized and that almost all the lands in Malita have been allegedly taken by the Bautistas through the rural bank by way of loans.
He also alleged that borrowers who fail to pay the loans are harassed by the goons of Derequito "that is why you will be forced to have your land foreclosed by the Rural Bank of Digos, the same with those lands of the Kaulos in Malita."
The provincial prosecutor recommended a bail bond of P6,000 for the temporary liberty of Marc.
Earlier, Derequito, basing his complaint on the same incident, also filed a libel case against Cagas and asked for damages worth P30 million. (With report from Manolet Causing)
