Dalog files libel case over corruption letter

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Rep. Maximo Dalog Sr. filed a libel case against private citizen Salvador Liked for allegedly imputing upon Dalog “ serious crimes and offenses” and reportedly portraying the complainant as a “corrupt public official”.

Set for preliminary investigation, the complaint filed at the provincial prosecutor’s office said a letter authored by Liked caused “damage and prejudice” on complainant during the recent election period.

Said subject letter forwarded to Ronaldo Puno, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government requested for investigation of alleged land-grabbing and corruption committed by Dalog.

Said letter furnished to the public, alleged use of public funds for the planting of bugnay trees in a lot purportedly owned by Dalog.

The said lot measuring 1,000 square meters located at Cagubatan, Tadian is the subject lot of a memorandum of agreement entered into between the provincial government and Dalog as owner of said lot.

In the agreement approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province in 2007, Dalog allowed the provincial LGU to utilize the said lot as a “demo farm inclusive of an access road and parking space and for other scientific research activities of the province.”

Said lot was secured via an extra judicial settlement of estate with simultaneous deed of sale.