International boxing judge Edward Ligas faces a libel case before the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court after charges were brought forward by Senior Deputy City Prosecutor Dennis Jarder.

According to the city prosecutor, a statement by Ligas, which was published by the Watchmen Daily Journal in 2016, “Impeached the honesty, integrity, and reputation of former Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon with malice and with the intent to injure and expose the latter to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”

He added, “Ligas unlawfully and feloniously stated that Guanzon acted with gross incompetence, conflict of interest, and human trafficking.”

Responding to accusations of wrongdoing during his time as GAB chief, Guanzon claimed the basic motivation behind the issue was greediness regarding match assignment and officiating rates. He explained, complaints arose regarding promoters paying low fees.

Ligas, however, claimed the former GAB head was “covering up.”

“The former chairman knew we already raised these issues last February of 2015 in Davao City,” he noted in the said article. “The chairman got mad and raised his voice and walked out from our discussions.”

“He tried to mislead and divert the issues,” the boxing official added.

In addition, Ligas, who is from Cebu, claimed Bacolod City officials were used to label Cebuano officials “unethical.”

He responded by saying, “When the chairman (Guanzon) allowed boxing division chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz, to act as a ‘cutman’ in Macao, is it not unethical?”

“When the chairman allowed mismatches, is it not unethical?” Ligas added.

The boxing judge was brought up on charges in violation of Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, which indicates, if found guilty of libel, can be sentenced to a fine, prison time, or both./JSG, WDJ