The Bohol Standard
Lawyer Salvador Diputado, a print and broadcast practitioner, and former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP-Bohol Chapter) said it is very unfortunate that Rep. Roberto Cajes (2nd District-Bohol) has maligned and destroyed his name and reputation in a forum where he is completely defenseless.
Diputado said this in reaction to the accusations hurled by Cajes in a privilege speech made during the January 20 session of the House of Representatives.
In that speech, Cajes described Diputado as “somebody who happens to be married to a Boholana, who has chosen to live in Bohol and savor the wealth of his wife’s family (nanghantok) because he has no credibility in his home province.â€
A member of the Lower House is protected by parliamentary immunity from all court actions in relations to whatever he says while using his privilege hour in the halls of congress.
Diputado expressed surprise by the personal attack.
He said “how can the solon say that about his life.â€
“Does he know me? What’s the difference in my life between then and now? I graduated from the Silliman University but I don’t deny my humble beginnings and I have remained the same,†Diputado said.
He added that he is just an ordinary man with simple needs and wants. He comes from a poor but decent family in Negros Oriental. His parents taught him to be honest and God-fearing.
“I don’t have any credibility crisis in Negros Oriental or elsewhere. I’m wondering where he got that stupid idea. I know that I am not perfect but one sure thing is, never in my life did I break my commitment to God. I don’t know about Congressman Cajes,†Diputado said.
He admitted he was retained by Governor Erico Aumentado as legal counsel in the CONA [Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance] case before Comelec [Commission on Elections] Manila.
“My involvement in this case is purely professional. I don’t understand why Congressman Cajes, a fellow lawyer and priest at that, should attack my personal life,†Diputado said.
Cajes also warned Diputado “whose utterances had been recorded, that a lawyer shall employ only fair and honest means to attain the lawful objectives of his client and shall not present, participate in presenting or threatening to present unfounded charges to obtain an improper advantage in any case or proceeding.â€
Diputado said he is wondering why Cajes should warn him for alleged ethical misconduct in the House of Representatives.
“If there is falsity in the pleading that I filed before the Comelec Law Department, he could easily challenge the same in his own pleading with his own evidence.â€
“There is no need to cloak his action with parliamentary immunity where I am not given the chance to answer his terribly unfair charges,†Diputado added.
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