An official of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) has posted bail after submitting herself to court to answer the cyberlibel case filed against her by the director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera.
Assisted by her legal counsel, CPA Secretary-General Sarah Dekdeken appeared before the Baguio City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 on March 12 after she accused PRO-Cor Director, R’win Pagkalinawan, of responsible for the dismantling of the heroes’ monument in Bugnay, Tingalayan, Kalinga.
Pagkalinawan has alleged that Dekdeken made the libelous statement during the CPA’s press conference livestreamed on its Facebook page on Jan. 14.
The press conference was held to shed light on the dismantling of the heroes’ memorial by unidentified suspects.
The memorial dubbed: “Anti-Chico Dams Struggle Heroes’ Monument” was built for local heroes namely Macli-ing Dulag, Pedro Dungoc, and Lumbaya Gayudan, who led the resistance against the planned Chico River Dam that would have submerged communities in the ‘70s.
The CPA, in a statement, said all the information shared during the press conference were based on reports gathered from reliable sources, as well as the resolution from the Bugnay community pointing to the police as the alleged culprits in the demolition of the monument.
“Stating and presenting information differs from blatantly tarnishing someone by alleging one to be something they’re not especially if bereft of proof.
Dekdeken has been clear in mentioning the community as reference for the accounts of what happened prior to the dismantling of the structure,” the CPA said in a statement.
The group added the cyberlibel case is a form of judicial harassment against its leaders since the police command has been targeting the group in its red-tagging and disinformation campaign. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 23, 2024
