(A statement from former Cebu City mayor and congressman Tomas Osmeña who filed a libel complaint against broadcaster-columnist Bobby Nalzaro)
Mr. Nalzaro is stalling. I accused him in court of lying when he said that I fabricated some of the 38 cases against Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas. Mr. Nalzaro cannot say which case is fabricated. Is he still looking?
If he can show that even one of the 38 cases was fabricated, I will immediately withdraw my libel suit.
I want to prove to the Cebuanos that I did not fabricate any case against Treasurer Cuevas as they are all based on COA reports.
Why did COA not file cases against the treasurer?
I asked that question six months ago to COA Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. She said that COA has too few lawyers and that they are mostly auditors. They have very limited prosecuting ability. But she said if a case is filed by a complainant, COA would be willing to testify or validate the matter in court.
Are the Cebuanos not interested to know what is happening to their city funds? Who is telling the truth? (Do you wonder why there is no cash left for senior citizens? For scholars? It was in the budget.)
Now, watch Mr. Nalzaro’s body language. He implies he is not guilty of libel because:
I don’t have a job and have nothing else to do.
He already has experienced 22 libel cases and had no problem with that.
He pities Treasurer Cuevas because I am picking on her.
It’s a personal grudge that I have against him, etc.
Mr. Nalzaro will spend his air, TV and print space to say all these except that he cannot say which of the 38 cases I fabricated. He is stalling.
My challenge to Mr. Nalzaro is to stop putting spider webs and inverted pyramids in people’s minds like someone I know.