Cebu City fiscals asked to inhibit in libel case vs Nalzaro

TRI-MEDIA personality Bobby Nalzaro has asked the entire Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office to inhibit themselves from handling the libel case filed against him by Miguel Osmeña, son of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Nalzaro’s lawyer, Joan Baron, who filed the motion on Monday (November 5) asking for the inhibition of the prosecutors assigned in Cebu City, said the prosecutors in Cebu City receive an allowance from the Cebu City government and their inhibition would avoid possible bias and prejudice, or doubts on whatever resolution they will arrive at.

“Because the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office receives monthly allowance from the city government. Since complainant is the son of Mayor Tom and Councilor Margot (Osmeña),” Nalzaro’s legal counsel, lawyer Joan Baron, told Cebu Daily News in a text message.

“We would like to give the prosecutor’s office the opportunity to avoid being caught in a conflict of interest because of a debt of gratitude,” she added.

On October 12, Miguel filed a complaint accusing Nalzaro of maligning his reputation after the latter named him in his column as having engaged in the illegal butane canister refilling business.

This is the 27th libel case filed against Nalzaro.

Nalzaro, in an earlier interview, announced that he intended to ask the city prosecutor’s office to inhibit from handling the complaint, citing the possibility that Mayor Osmeña, in his capacity as the local chief executive, who provides monthly stipend for the city prosecutors, may influence the fiscal assigned to the case.

However, he said he will only answer the allegations hurled against him before the court.