By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A radio anchorwoman in this city is facing multiple criminal and civil cases after allegedly berating a municipal councilor over her radio program.
Incumbent Sigma Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Cyndy Bermejo-Francisco will file several charges against India Obera-Lavapiez of Baskog Radyo for allegedly maligning her on the program Baskog in the Morning, which airs during noontime.
Through her legal counsel, Atty. Argee C. Guevara, Francisco is set to file complaints against Lavapiez for the following violations:
- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 11116 or the Anti-Discrimination Act and Fair Campaign Guidelines;
- The Omnibus Election Code in relation to Republic Act 9006, Section 26(e) – prohibition against threats and intimidation, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment;
- Libel under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, including a separate civil complaint for damages;
- Civil damages against Baskog Radyo to be filed with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); and
- Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law), which penalizes gender-based harassment in public spaces, online platforms, workplaces, and educational institutions.
Guevara, a journalist and activist lawyer based in Metro Manila, was tapped by the Francisco family to pursue the cases, saying Lavapiez made defamatory remarks without verifying the facts.
“We will be filing around 10 cases against Lavapiez here in Capiz, Cebu and Manila,” Guevara said.
He added they intend to make an example of Lavapiez, who is known on-air as “Mamang India,” for spreading fake news now under investigation by a national agency.
Guevara said they will also file a complaint with the NTC after discovering that Baskog Radyo is allegedly operating without a legislative franchise.
Among the defamatory remarks allegedly made by Lavapiez was calling the SB member a “kabit,” or paramour of the mayor.
Francisco said her parents raised her and her siblings to live respectfully and with integrity, adding that she cannot allow the anchor’s actions to go unanswered.
She said Lavapiez even dared her to file charges and threatened to expose more information.
Although Lavapiez did not mention her by name, Guevara said the remarks clearly referred to his client.
Francisco became emotional while addressing the media about the distress caused by Lavapiez’s alleged false claims.
She was joined at the press conference by her mother, sister and husband at Veronica Hotel in Pueblo de Panay.
Her mother, a cancer survivor, also broke down in tears, saying she could not bear the hurtful accusations made against her daughter.
Francisco is running for vice mayor of Sigma under the ticket of re-electionist Mayor Dante Rizal Eslabon in the upcoming midterm elections.
Daily Guardian attempted to reach Lavapiez for comment, but she was unavailable as of press time.
