Pasig City Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo filed a cyber libel case against Mayor Vico Sotto at the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday, March 18.
In a press interview, Bernardo said the cyber libel case stemmed from the comments made by Sotto against him in a flag raising ceremony at the city hall on Jan. 10.
“Ito po ay ‘yung nangyaring insidente na nangyari sa flag ceremony dahil naniniwala kasi ako na hindi po nagagamit ang flag ceremony pagdating po sa political agenda. Ginagamit po ito para pasalamat ang mga empleyado natin, para po i-encourage, para lalo pa pong magtrabaho para sa mga Pasigueño (This pertains to what happened during the flag ceremony because I believe that the flag ceremony should not be used for a political agenda. It is used to thank our employees and encourage them to work better for our citizens),” Bernardo said.
He said he filed a cyber libel case because the ceremony was live-streamed and shared all over social media.
“Mayroon pong proper na venue at ako po, ay tatanggapin ko ang lahat ng paninira. Huwag lang po sa flag ceremony (There is a proper venue and I will accept the criticisms . Just don’t do it during the flag ceremony),” he added.
The vice mayor said he fulfills his duties as the head of the Pasig City Council, which passes the city’s annual budget, allocates the funds needed for financial assistance to residents during the pandemic and educational materials such as tablets to students.
Atty. Ramon Gerard Hernandez, Bernardo’s lawyer, said he filed the vice mayor’s 14-page complaint, excluding other details and the affidavits of three witnesses.
Regarding the timing of filing the case, Hernandez said the vice mayor had been consulting with lawyers and preparing the complaints since January.
On the same day, Mayor Sotto released a response through the Pasig City Public Information Office (PIO), saying: “Wala pa po kaming info na natatanggap kung ano ba talaga ang kasong naisampa ni VM Bernardo. We will wait for the notice from the Prosecutor (We have not received information on the case that was filed by VM Bernardo. We will wait for the notice from the Prosecutor)".
In the flag raising ceremony on Jan. 10, Sotto commented on Bernardo’s lack of attendance in city government activities, adding the vice mayor was unresponsive to his calls and messages.
“Minsan mayroon tayong mga kailangan pag-usapan, pareho parin kaming nakaupo kahit sabihin mong hindi kami magkasama sa politika, wala namang problema sana ‘yon...Kung nakakausap ko sana si Vice Iyo, kung sumasagot sana sa mga tawag at text ko, edi hindi na kailangan sabihin in public. Pero wala na rin po akong choice kasi hindi nga po sumasagot sakin...(Sometimes we have things we need to discuss since we're still elected officials even if we differ in politics...If I was able to talk to Vice Iyo, if he responded to my calls and texts, then I wouldn't need to say this in public. But I have no choice since he doesn’t respond to me),” Sotto said.