SEVEN barangay captains in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu were arrested at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2022 due to the oral defamation case filed against them by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.
Nabbed were Eduardo Cuizon, 63, of Barangay Bangkal; Eleonor Fontanoza, 57, of Barangay Gun-ob; Regina Ybañez, 63, of Barangay Looc; Triponia Abayan, 69, of Barangay Tungasan; Joselito Tibon, 56, of Barangay Subabasbas; Reynaldo Tampus, 60, of Barangay Canjulao; and Rosalino Abing, 63, of Barangay Maribago.
They were arrested by joint teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Station 3 based on a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Anna Marie Militante of 7th Judicial Region Branch 53 of Lapu-Lapu City.
Patrolwoman Kaye Jacaban told SunStar that before the officials were served their arrest warrants by elements of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, the officials voluntarily surrendered to the CIDG 7 headquarters in Camp Sotero Cabahug on Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City.
They were released on the same day after they each posted bail of P36,000.
In a statement, the CIDG 7 confirmed their release.
Bangkal village chief Cuizon, an ally of Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza, is an ex-officio member of the Lapu-Lapu City Council being the president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).
Radaza is Chan’s political rival.
On March 15, 2022, Mayor Chan filed counter-charges for oral defamation against the seven barangay captains who had charged him and 11 other city hall officials with malversation of public funds.
Chan said the seven barangay officials tarnished his reputation by making “defamatory utterances, maliciously and with evident ill-will” against him in a press conference conducted by the opposition barangay captains on Feb. 15, 2022.
“Said press conference was aired and published on Facebook through the page Team Deretso,” said Chan in his affidavit, referring to Radaza’s team.
SunStar tried to contact Cuizon to get his side on the matter but failed. (REV, FVQ / TPT / EHP)