BOBBY NALZARO
A neophyte judge will handle the libel case against tri-media personality Pablito “Bobby” Nalzaro.
The case was raffled yesterday to the sala of Judge Ricky Jones Macabaya of branch 5 of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.
Nalzaro is being accused of maligning former Cebu City mayor Tomas R. Osmeña.
Macabaya will have to decide whether or not there is sufficient basis to issue a warrant of arrest against Nalzaro.
A judicial determination of probable cause is necessary before a judge can issue a warrant of arrest against an accused.
The libel case against Nalzaro was filed in court on June 3.
Prosecutor Jesus Rodrigo Taga-an earlier denied the plea of Nalzaro’s lawyer to drop the charges against the broadcast journalist.
Nalzaro was accused of “intentionally” and “maliciously” maligning Osmeña in his column published in Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 25, 2014.
Bail has been set at P10,000.
Nalzaro’s lawyer, Joan Baron of the J.P. Garcia and Associates, is asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review Taga-an’s findings.
A petition for review before the DOJ will hold off Nalzaro’s arraignment, but not his arrest.
Macabaya used to be an assistant city prosecutor. He was appointed a trial judge by President Benigno Aquino III in January.
He immediately got hold of the records of the newly-filed case for review.