THE Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has indicted a woman for allegedly maligning the reputation of a condominium owner by scattering copies of a fake arrest warrant in the latter’s unit last year.
Prosecutor Ma. Liza Jorda found evidence to charge Ester Cuaycong with libel before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.
An arrest warrant issued against an individual shows that the person in the document has a pending criminal case.
“Thus, scattering the document in public indicates malice and intent to humiliate and discredit the person subject of the warrant,” said Prosecutor Jorda in her resolution. Cuaycong, of Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, went inside Club Ultima Residences on Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City last April 22, 2016 and left copies of the purported arrest warrant against the complainant, Shirly Demaisip.
The arrest warrant was allegedly for other deceits reportedly pending before Regional Trial Court Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul. Dimaisip’s daughter got hold of the supposed arrest warrant and gave it to her mother. When she went out of her condominium unit, Dimaisip said she also saw several copies of the same paper left scattered on the floor, stairs and in the lobby.
Dimaisip said her friends called her attention about the it and that she felt humiliated. Dimaisip’s family members later asked for footage of the CCTV from the Club Ultima management, which showed Cuaycong.
She also verified the document with the issuing court, which confirmed that the supposed arrest warrant was fake. The court staff confirmed that no complaint had been filed against Dimaisip.
In the resolution, Prosecutor Jorda held that Cuaycong’s act constitutes libel.