Local News: Fiscal ‘Causes’ Star Lavilla to be Tried by Court for Libel

Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) General Manager Sulpicio Lagar-de, Jr. sent hard copies of legal documents signed by Prosecutor Dennis Jarder to Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) which read probable cause of the crime of libel allegedly committed by consumerist Romeo "Star" Lavilla.

While the Bacolod prose-cutor’s resolution of Lavilla’s complaint was dated months back, last July 4, 2011, Lagarde deemed the delayed publication very responsible and will achieve the objective of ending speculations about the circumstances surrounding the severance of his service from the Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (Pelco 2).

The Prosecutor’s July 4, 2011 resolution read that an "open letter" dated September 28, 2009 and signed by Lavilla was received by La-garde claiming, among others, "Collusion, connivance or conspiracy" of Ceneco officials with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) relative to the latter’s appointment as General Manager and a local supplier ML Electrical Supply for alleged purchase of fake transformers.

Copies of Lavilla’s open letter were sent to the Office of the President of the Philippines, Office of the Secretary of Energy, National Electrification Administration and the media, an act which the Prosecutor found damaging.

Lavilla claimed in his September 28, 2009 letter, that despite NEA’s awareness of Lagarde’s "pending case with PELCO II," it confirmed Lagarde’s appointment as Ceneco’s General Manager therefore, "The appointment of Lagarde, Jr. in Ceneco was tainted with suspicion of collusion, connivance or conspiracy between Ceneco officials and NEA."

His letter likewise read that Ceneco purchased 1,000 units of fake KWH Metering devices from ML Electrical Supply and apparently suspicious of Lagarde’s justification of such counterfeit purchases in media.

Prosecutor Jarder, meanwhile, found Lavilla’s claims to be "uncalled for and all directed to the person of Lagarde therefore besmirching his reputation." adding that Lavilla’s claims are "defamatory, casting dishonor and contempt upon the person of Lagarde."

Also, Lavilla’s claim that "Ceneco purchased fake KWH metering devices at ML Electrical Supply" at an overprice is plain malicious.

Jarder resolved that Lavilla’s claims read in his letter to Ceneco dated September 28, 2009 have probable cause for the crime of libel punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

He recommended filing of appropriate charges in court.*