THE Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office found probable cause to charge former city administrator John Yre De los Reyes and two others for cyber libel after he allegedly defamed a former city councilor.
Talisay City Prosecutor Marshall Rubia said the charges filed by former city councilor Aldin Diaz against the son of former Talisay City mayor Johnny de los Reyes and two of his relatives have been raised before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 in Talisay City.
The arraignment was supposed to be set last June but de los Reyes’ camp filed a motion to defer proceedings to give way to a petition they filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Central Office in Manila.
In his petition, the younger de los Reyes is seeking a review of the findings penned by the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office on his case.
Last March, de los Reyes and his relatives Joan Sevilleno and June Jay Gatchalian were charged for allegedly violating Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Diaz, who was a first term city councilor then, claimed that de los Reyes called him “bayot” (homosexual) on his Facebook page from June 29 to July 2 last year.
Diaz said he included Sevilleno and Gatchalian in his complaint because the two allegedly commented on John Yre’s post.
This is not the first time John Yre was charged for defaming a public official.
Aside from Diaz, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas sued the former city administrator for allegedly maligning him in his paid radio program in Radio DyRC.
Gullas said that John Yre reportedly called him “kawatan” (thief) in his radio program. The mayor said John Yre’s allegations hurt his reputation and his family’s standing. Aside from John Yre, Gullas also sued the city administrator’s brother Clifford for allegedly claiming on his Facebook page that he had earned kickbacks from the proposed sale of the Tabunok Public Market.