THE two construction material suppliers and contractors who were arrested and detained two weeks ago will file an illegal detention complaint against City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan.
Perfecto Seneres and Mark Anthony Diaz on Tuesday, September 18, said their lawyer advised them to file an illegal detention or arbitrary detention case against Bayatan.
“There were no charges or warrant of arrest issued against us and it’s unfair to us,” they said.
On September 5, Seneres, Diaz and their three companions Antonio Wong, Edgar Cadagat and Nemesio Demafiles, were caught in the act of distributing documents containing allegations of misconduct against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his partymates as well as Bayatan, among others, at the Government Center.
Bayatan subsequently filed a libel case against them at the City Prosecutors Office.
READ: Libel raps filed vs 5 construction suppliers
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1762930
But the City Prosecutors Office dismissed the case against them for lack of evidence.
Last week the Regional Trial Court ordered the release of Seneres and Diaz following the city prosecutor’s decision.
Seneres said they are preparing their documents for the filing of the case against Bayatan.
Diaz said they were only collecting payment from the City Government but they were detained instead.
“There are no charges filed against us, but we were detained,” he said.
Bayatan on Monday said he will file a motion for reconsideration before the Prosecutor’s Office within a week following the dismissal of the libel complaint.
READ: On dismissed libel complaint, Bayatan set to file MR
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1764870/Bacolod/Local-News/On-dismissed-libel-complaint-Bayatan-set-to-file-MR
Seneres, Diaz and three other companions were employees of Penjan Builders that was awarded the P3.8 million contract on March 2016 for the supply of construction materials to the city.
The contract was signed by former Bacolod City mayor Monico Puentevella.
Leonardia, for his part, said the incident is a political propaganda meant to discredit his administration.
READ: City officials pursue libel raps vs 5 construction suppliers
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1763116
““In the end, it’s all about politics as the 2019 elections is fast approaching,” Leonardia earlier said.
He said he has the information as to who is behind the distribution of the alleged libelous documents.