A court in Camarines Norte dismissed several libel cases filed against six journalists by Governor Edgardo Tallado and former provincial board member Rodolfo Gache.
In open court, Judge Winston Racoma of Regional Trial Court Branch 39 cited the “lack of interest on the part of the complainants” in clearing Virgilio “Jun Bagwis” Avila Jr., Romelito Fenix, station manager Noli Banaria, Romeo Ibana, Bernie Patiag, and Irene Cambronero, who is also a barangay chairman, of three counts each of libel.
Fenix was also cleared in a separate case of violation of the anti-voyeurism law.
The cases had been provisionally dismissed by the court two years ago but were revived by the prosecutor’s office during a lock-down in September.
Fenix was arrested while hosting his regular program over radio station dzAU in Daet. The other journalists evaded arrest by posting bail.
Avila, however, is still facing four more cases, this time of cyber libel, filed by Tallado.
The cases are scheduled to be heard next year.
Reference:
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