CONG. EDGAR M. CHATTO
by Dave Suan Albarado
Bohol First District Congressman Edgar M. Chatto issued a media statement on Saturday expressing his reaction over the reported dismissal of 18 out of 21 counts of cyberlibel cases he filed against his social media critic, Willy Ramasola.
Chatto said he learned about the dismissal from Ramasola’s social media account and that he is still waiting for the official resolution from the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.
He said he will definitely avail himself of legal remedies to question the resolution of the investigating prosecutor.
He also challenged Ramasola to file cases against him and see if they will not suffer the same fate as the one filed against his wife, Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto, which was dismissed outright by the Ombudsman.
“Let us not be misled that this is about Mr. Ramasola’s self-proclaimed fight against corruption for there is nothing synonymous between libel & the noble advocacy against those who steal from the coffers of government,” Chatto said in the statement.
He added that all allegations posted on social media by Ramasola are not equivalent to proof and are clearly intended to malign and discredit his name.
Cong. Chatto said the three counts of cyber libel that were not dismissed are not enough to ease the pain that his family and he have undergone and are undergoing because of the unfair, baseless, false, and malicious statements Ramasola has been posting on social media.
He said the finding of probable cause for three counts of cyber libel against Ramasola is already an indication that his (Ramasola’s) comments in the social media against him (Chatto) are clearly malicious.
He also said the dismissal of the 18 counts of cyber libel should not be associated with any semblance of truth in Ramasola’s allegation of corruption because the elements of cyber libel and corruption are totally different.
He said Ramasola’s comments which focus on alleged corruption remain an allegation aimed at destroying his reputation and maligning his person for political reasons.
Chatto said that in all the allegations of corruption by Ramasola against him, there is no single finding of probable cause as compared to Ramasola who is already facing a string of cyber libel cases in court.
“This means that he has the propensity of maligning people regardless of whether his allegations are true or not,” Chatto said.
Chatto also said whether it is one count or three counts, what is important is that Ramasola’s postings in the social media alleging corruption are malicious and libelous.
The former Bohol governor assured that he will continue his fight which he does not only take as his own but for the countless others who suffer in silence despite being publicly vilified on the internet.
“This battle is far from over, Mr. Ramasola. See you in court,” Chatto said.