Libel suit against governor's critics is against the Church too, Bishop Valles says
Kidapawan City (AsiaNews) "The libel suit North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol filed against four of his critics is a case against the Church," said Kidapawan Bishop Romulo Valles, who declared his "all-out-support" to the four respondents, two of whom are diocesan workers.
The four put their names to an invitation circulated by Kalampag (Kutabateños Alang sa Maayong Panggamhanan), a broad alliance of civil society organisations and civil libertarians, asking people to join a series of protest rallies seeking justice for the victims of alleged abuses by the Piñol family. The Governor's response was a P5 million libel suit (about US$ 90,000 or 70,000) against his critics.
Bishop Valles backs the diocesan workers without reservations. "Two of themFely Singco and lawyer Connie Brizuelarepresent the diocese in the Kalampag and acted on behalf of the Church," he said. "Therefore, the case filed against them is also against the diocese." Singco is the coordinator of 'Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation' while Brizuela works as the bishop's legal counsel. They were accused along with United Methodist Church Pastor Joy Manuales and Nelson Bautista, North Cotabato Chapter chair of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
As tensions between the parties grow, the Bishop cautioned the faithful against losing sight of "the real issues", namely that the church and Kalampag are fighting for justice against the alleged abuses by the Piñols (police officers relieved of their duties and 30 cases of rough treatment involving the governor's three younger brothers Ferdinand, Joselito and Bernardo Piñol Jr). The alleged abuses were covered by the press, but the Governor Piñol flatly denied the charges and told one journalist to rectify his story which he called damaging both for himself and for his office.
The Governor went on to accuse the critics who took part in the protest rallies against him and his family, Bishop and clergymen included, of being "Communists and criminals".
At the same time, the Philippines National Police Academy Alumni Association Inc. in North Cotabato said that it would call a meeting to discuss what concrete steps it could take to help the four libel suit respondents and Kalampag.
In the last few days, 25 police association members released a statement "denouncing in the strongest term possible" what they described as abuse of authority by the governor for relieving municipal and city police chiefs of their duty after they refused to back the Piñols."
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