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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Ex-youth leader linked to justice chief sues for libel
By Jay Dooma Balnig
ILOILO CITY -- A former Youth Council leader filed libel charges against Jose Roberto Montilla, a former staff of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who alleged that she had an illicit relationship with the Cabinet official.
Tessie Jamolo, now councilor of Barangay Tanza Bonifacio, refuted Montilla's claim in her affidavit subscribed before the Iloilo City Prosecutor's Office Tuesday morning.
Jamolo, who was once a staff of the former congressman, said Montilla "intentionally and feloniously maligned her reputation" with his allegations.
Also charged were Liga ng mga Barangay president Marietta Orleans and her counsel, Bonifacio Alentajan, as well as Panay News publisher Daniel Fajardo and editors Belen Gumban, Del Estrella, Renato Layson, Carmelo Ang, Montessa Griño and Lyn Tempo.
Through her counsel, Antonio Pesina, Jamolo sued the respondents for violation of Article 355 in relation to Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, the libel charges stemmed from the publication of Panay News last September 27 and 28, 2004 of an article captioned, "Gonzalez accused of immorality." The story was based on the affidavit Montilla executed against the justice secretary.
Jamolo cited Paragraph 5 of Montilla's affidavit wherein he stated he saw Gonzalez and Jamolo inside the conference room sharing an intimate moment. He added that not only him, but also all who are in their office knew the two had an affair.
The 24-year-old Law student, who is seeking P2 million in moral damages, allegedly got pregnant as a result of her affair with the former congressman.
Jamolo said "not only did I not have an affair with (Secretary Gonzalez), I was never pregnant nor had a child with him nor with anybody else."
"I was shocked upon learning the same issue is now being given too much publicity in the media by the same people out to destroy my reputation and the political career of former congressman Raul Gonzalez Sr."
"Someone has to answer for destroying my reputation and dignity as a woman. My future here is at stake," she added.
Pesina said in a radio interview there is a conspiracy against her client, who is being dragged into the issue involving Gonzalez.
"They are dragging my client into their misdeeds. According to Tess, it didn't happen," said Pesina, who is a long-time friend of Tessie's father, village chief Rafael Jamolo.
The younger Jamolo charged Orleans, now employer of Montilla, for "destroy(ing) my reputation."
Orleans, a former ally of Gonzalez, attached Montilla's affidavit to the disbarment petition she filed against the justice chief.
She also said Alentajan is into "grandstanding and trial by publicity."
Orleans and Alentajan, she added, "in their evil desire, conspired and maligned her reputation as a woman."
Jamolo, in her complaint, attached the affidavits of her two female friends, who were named witnesses.
(March 2, 2005 issue)
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