CEBU-based international boxing judge Edward Ligas is facing a libel case before the Regional Trial Court in Bacolod City after Senior Deputy City Prosecutor Dennis Jarder filed a criminal information against him under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code.
According to the city prosecutor, Ligas’ statement in a newspaper article impeached the honesty, integrity, and reputation of former Games and Amusement Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon with malice and with the intent to injure and expose the latter to public hatred, contempt and ridicule.
The city prosecutor added that Ligas unlawfully and feloniously stated that Guanzon acted with gross incompetence, conflict of interest and human trafficking.
It was recalled that the issue heated up after Guanzon aired his side after Ligas accused him of wrongdoings as GAB chief.
Guanzon then said that the basic motivation behind this issue is greediness on the match assignment and officiating rates. He explained that among their complaints was lack of fees given to them by the promoters – which he explained that GAB could not impose because they were helping the organizers to have at least low tournament expenses.
Guanzon, further, stressed that he had told them to ask the promoters instead and turn down the job if they don’t agree because they're not forced to officiate.
Ligas fired back saying that the former GAB chair was desperate to cover-up his mess in GAB, adding that the latter tried to mislead and divert the issues at the instant petition. That caused the Bacolod official to answer some of the allegations and called the Cebuano ring officials unethical when they articulated the issues through media.
Apart from being an international boxing judge, Ligas is also a media practitioner with a segment aired over DyHP and the president of the Professional Boxing Officials of Cebu City. (HGD)