CYBERLIBEL. Former congressman Eduardo Gullas says he’s the “old man” referred to in the Facebook criticism posted by the son of the Talisay mayor. It’s up to Talisay City Prosecutor Marcial Rubia (seated) to assess. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
FORMER Rep. Eduardo Gullas yesterday filed a libel complaint against the son of Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. delos Reyes for allegedly attacking him on Facebook.
Gullas said Clifford delos Reyes accused him in a Facebook post of receiving an advance payment of P30 million for the sale of the Tabunok Public Market, a charge Gullas called “baseless, false, and malicious.”
“As a public official, I have my share of critics, mostly from the media. But none so mean, cruel, and nasty as a certain Clifford delos Reyes,” said Gullas in his affidavit.
The Gullas patriarch, who is running for Talisay mayor in the 2016 election, is demanding P2 million in damages and attorney’s fees of P200,000 for being exposed to shame and dishonor.
The 85-year-old candidate went to the Talisay Prosecutor’s Office to file the complaint accompanied by five of his lawyers.
Although he was not named in Clifford’s FB post on Sept. 15, 2015, Gullas said he was clearly the person referred to in the post as the “old man” who sold the Tabunok Public Market to a big businessman for P30 million.
“JVR, Vice Mayor (Romeo) Villarante and myself are the only contenders for the position of mayor in the forthcoming 2016 elections. Among the three contenders, only JVR and I are old. The person he’s referring to in his post can’t be his father,” he said.
Gullas, who is also president of the University of the Visayas, said the accusations were concocted by Clifford to ruin his reputation as well as that of his family.
“Clifford delos Reyes has lamely resorted to innuendos by which he launched his most vicious assault on my person, honor and reputation,” said Gullas.
“The move of using social media against me is part of the demolition job against my candidacy,” said Gullas, who is a former Cebu governor, congressman and Talisay’s first mayor as a component city.
Oscar Capacio, a former prosecutor and head of Gullas’ legal team, said the mayor and his family can expect more cases to be filed against them.
“This is just the first of a series of cases that we will file against them for destroying the reputation of Eddiegul,” said Capacio.
The complaint said the damaging claims against Gullas were lies intended to to malign his good name and that of his family.
Gullas is also represented in the case by lawyers Joselito Alo, Habeas Corpuz, Juril Patiño and Aven Piramide.