The Office of the City Prosecutor of Bacolod City dismissed the complaint of subornation of perjury filed by Councilor Caesar Distrito against the late Sangguniang Secretary Nilo Alejandrino and the complaint of perjury against the latter’s witness Orlando Torre, for lack of probable cause.

Distrito had filed the criminal and administrative and cases against Alejandrino last year at the Office of the Vice Mayor and the Ombudsman for the Visayas, in relation to an incident that occurred at the Sanggunian Secretary’s Office.

In his affidavit, Distrito said that Alejandrino was given the chance to submit his comment/counter-affidavit before the Office of the Vice Mayor, but he refused and was therefore declared to have waived his right to submit it, and subsequently meted a preventive suspension pending the final investigation.

Distrito also said that, considering that nobody in the SP office would testify and affirm the alibi of Alejandrino that he never shouted invective words at him, that he never insulted and vilified and ridiculed his disability, that he never challenged him to a fight, and that he never threw a chair, but instead the same had just slipped out of his hand, he found it hard to find someone to execute an affidavit.

In their joint affidavit, Torre and Alejandrino denied the allegations of Distrito.

Assistant City Prosecutor Therese Blance Bolunia, who recommended the dismissal of the complaint, said that as there is no finding yet that Torre falsely swore and testified as to render him guilty of perjury, Alejandrino could not be said to have knowingly and willfully procured Torre to swear falsely and testify under circumstances as to render him guilty of perjury.

Her recommendation was approved by City Prosecutor Armando Abanado.*CGS

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