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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Thursday, May 18, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Renecito Novero is not involved in gambling, legal or illegal.
That was what the councilor clarified in a privilege speech he delivered on Wednesday in light of news media reports on the allegation that a certain “RN of SP Bacolod” is an illegal gambling protector.
“While I am a lawyer, and a very active practicing lawyer, I have never been a counsel of any gambling entity or institution,” said Novero. “I strongly condemn any false and malicious involvement of my name into such enterprise.”
While “RN of SP Bacolod” does not explicitly state any name, Novero believed that “[his] name has been falsely dragged to the issue.”
“The phrase ‘SP of Bacolod’ has been interpreted to refer to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City where there is only one member with the initials of ‘RN,’ and that is myself,” Novero said.
He wanted to distance himself from the term. “I … denounce and repudiate … any attachment of my name to the term ‘RN of SP Bacolod’ as alleged protector of illegal gambling in Bacolod City or elsewhere.”
All he wanted was to make it clear with his colleagues and the press that he was not that “RN of SP Bacolod,” Novero told Panay News.
He also threatened to sue the news organizations that published stories on the issue.
“I cannot understand why some members of the press would allow themselves to be conduit[s] of false news and malicious stories which bedevil good names and ruin good lives,” Novero said in his speech.
He cited the Sept. 16, 2008 Supreme Court ruling on “Tulfo v. People, G.R. Nos. 161032 & 161776” — which described the defendant as “a journalist abdicating his responsibility to verify his story and instead misinforming the public [sic]” — to “offer caution to every member of the press henceforth.”
“I … intend to write those who falsely dragged my name to the issue of illegal gambling,” said Novero. “And I hope that after one week from receipt of my letter, I shall no longer feel constrained to file a libel suit against them.”
Last month a Bacolod City-based newspaper reported — citing a source it identified as “The Real Crusaders” — that “NY of Sagay, RN of SP Bacolod and a certain Edward Ibya of Davao” were alleged illegal gambling financiers.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said the Sangguniang Panlungsod will hold a caucus to discuss the allegation.
This “affects the reputation not only of the concerned councilor but also of the city council,” said Familiaran, presiding officer./PN
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