Mayor Estrañero files complaint in Isabela due to absence of a cyber libel court in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga – In a report of a Radyo Natin Tabuk broadcaster, Jhong Valdez Andal, this December 1, 2020 in a radio program “Radyo Natin in Action with Kenny C. Gonayon”, he mentioned that the reason why Mayor Darwin Estrañero filed his cyber libel complaint in Isabela against Guru Press Editor Brent Martinez and others is because there is no cyber libel court in Kalinga.

“Iti biyang ni Mayor Darwin Estrañero , saan nga ijay Cabagan, Isabela Prosecutor’s Office ti nangiulian na iti reklamo a cyber libel nu di ket sadiay Ilagan City, Isabela. Nu apay nga sadiay Ilagan City, Isabela iti nangiulian iti reklamo insigun pay ken ni mayor Estrañero ket gapu ta awan iti cyber libel court ditoy Kalinga,” reported Andal.

In the report of Andal, Mayor Estrañero denied Martinez’s statement that Estrañero is guilty of forum shopping though Estrañero already filed the same complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation in August as attested by a subpoena which Martinez and Ghumie Pinkihan, the Guru Press publisher, responded to.

According to Andal, the Mayor said it is only in Ilagan where he filed his complaint.

“Awan iti napasamak nga forum shopping ta ijay laeng Ilagan City, Isabela iti nangiulian na iti reklamo kada Brent Martinez ken kadagiti kakadwa na. Kinunana pay ni mayor Estrañero nga araramaten dagiti respondents iti social media for trial publicity…,” stated Andal.

Mayor Estrañero was reported saying that they have evidence to prove that the articles written by Guru Press Cordillera are libelous and that they should face the consequences of their actions.

On the other hand, Martinez, in an interview, said he and the rest who were charged by Estrañero are ready to face the charges for the truth, saying that Tabukeños should not be taken for stupid or unlearned that they cannot differentiate truth from lies.

Martinez likewise mentioned that the memory of the people cannot be that dull that they cannot remember the cyber libel charges of the Mayor against 6 individuals which included then an SK officer before the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Adda kadagiti taga Tabuk daytoy nu anya kayat da mapasamak because I believe the people of Tabuk know the truth and that they know what they ought to do. Let the cyber libel cases come… it is the price of being a journalist,” added Martinez.

Today, those who are facing cyber libel cases finished their counter-affidavit and soon be sent to the prosecutor’s office of Isabela.

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