Davao del Norte 2nd district Antonio Floirendo, Jr. whipped out a P10 Million libel suit against 1st district Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez for alluding to the Floirendos as landgrabbers in statements printed and broadcast in six Manila-based media establishments.
Floirendo filed the case with the office of the city prosecutor in Quezon City on August 22, a copy of which was e-mailed to Edge Davao on Wednesday.
The complaint was accompanied by an affidavit executed by Davao City-based lawyer Nicolas A. Banga supporting the complaint.
Banga, chief legal counsel of the Anflo Management & Investment Corportion, said Alvarez’ defamatory statements that were aired on television and printed in several publications “clearly alluded to Congressman Floirendo and family as landgrabbers.”
In his complaint, Floirendo said Alvarez’s derogatory statements were made in the wake of media stories referring to Alvarez’ acquisition of P500 Million worth of properties in Siargao and Surigao del Norte.
Floirendo said Alvarez in a press conference blamed him for allegedly spreading false information about his Siargao properties.
He said Alvarez, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives, followed this with a statement alluding to the Floirendos as landgrabbers.
Floirendo said the ‘malicious statements’ were then widely published in several media establishments.
“The imputation that I was behind spreading false rumors regarding his properties and that my family and I are landgrabbers is part of Alvarez’ effort to injure my reputation and character,” added Floirendo.
Floirendo also added that the elements of libel are present in the case, to include imputation of a crime, publicity, done maliciously, directed at his person and that tended to discredit him.
“Alvarez did not mince words in identifying my family and I as landgrabbers,” he said. “His statements are calculated to detract from the real issue at hand—his acquisition of numerous properties under mysterious circumstances.”
He said Alvarez’ attacks tended to blacken the memory of the his father, the late Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr.
He summed it up: “I emphasize that my father was considred a captain of industry, a pioneering entrepreneur and a pillar of the banana industry. Having passed away already, he is now unable to confront the allegations him.” (JKL)
