ILOILO – The head of the Public Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO) of the Iloilo provincial government posted bail Wednesday after a Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest against him for two counts of cyber libel stemming from a complaint filed by former Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas.
Judge Judita Patriarca Nafarrete of Branch 38, 6th Judicial Region, issued the warrant on February 24 against PICAO head Jose Nereo Cajilig Lujan for alleged violation of Section 4 (C), Chapter II of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code.
The court fixed bail at P48,000 for the two counts of cyber libel.
Upon learning of the warrant, Lujan personally went to the Hall of Justice and immediately posted bail.
The charges stem from Lujan’s social media posts that Treñas deemed malicious, defamatory, and intended to tarnish his reputation.
Treñas also filed administrative complaints against Lujan lodged before the Civil Service Commission.
“I’ve been here for 39 years. Do I have a case against a member of the media? But if you’re not a member of the media, does that mean you can just oppress me, ridicule me? I will not allow it,” Treñas said.
In an official statement released Thursday, February 25, Treñas confirmed that the case originated from his personal complaint and addressed the issuance of the arrest warrant against Lujan.
“This action was not taken lightly. It was undertaken after careful consideration and in full faith in our legal system. This is not about personal vengeance. It is about principle. It is about drawing the line between criticism and character assassination,” Treñas said.
He added that as a lawyer and as someone who has devoted decades of his life to public service, he has always believed that justice is the foundation of a civilized society, stressing that laws exist not to silence people but to protect truth, dignity, and fairness.
“I have spent many years serving our people – with all the scrutiny, criticism, and even harsh words that come with leadership. I have accepted those as part of democracy. But freedom of speech, while sacred, is not absolute. It was never meant to be a license to lie, to malign, or to deliberately destroy a person’s name built over a lifetime of service,” Treñas said.
He further stated: “As I return to private life and to the legal profession, I do so with the same conviction I have always held that justice must prevail, and that truth must be defended. Not only for myself, but for anyone who becomes a victim of abuse disguised as ‘free speech.’ Let this moment remind us all that democracy thrives on responsible expression. Rights come with duties. Freedom carries accountability. And in the end, justice will always have its day.”/PN
