Prosecutor: It was a clerical error
ROXAS CITY – Provincial Prosecutor Rodolfo Beluso has welcomed the administrative case with disbarment filed against him before the Supreme Court by media blocktimer Abe Ballos, who has been charged for libel by former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante.
Countering Ballos’ claim that he mispresented himself as “assistant provincial prosecutor,” Beluso said what happened was a clerical error.
It was an honest mistake and there was no malicious intent on his part, he said.
Beluso, in a radio interview, said he is ready to answer the accusations before the Supreme Court as he believes the case will be dismissed.
Ballos had earlier said an amended information on his libel case filed on May 4, 2010 by the prosecution showed Beluso signing and misrepresenting himself as the “assistant provincial prosecutor.”
Such was in obvious attempt, he said, to preempt the court from dismissing his case and in effect contravening the provision of Bar Matter No. 850, among others.
Before that on March 26, 2010, Ballos’ counsel filed a manifestation with motion asking the dismissal of the libel case for failure of investigating prosecutor Freddie Ofialda to indicate in the information his Mandatory Continuing Legal Education compliance number.
This non-compliance and failure to indicate such compliance number is a ground for the dismissal of the case pursuant to Bar Matter No. 850, Ballos said.
He added that on April 21, 2010, a rejoinder to prosecution’s opposition was filed by his counsel amplifying his argument in support of the motion to dismiss.
Ballos also said that even before the trial court could resolve the pending motions, the amended information was filed by the prosecution in May.*
