The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor dismissed falsification complaints filed by two Moises Padilla residents against Task Force Kasanag (TFK) national commander John Chiong and journalist Dolly Yasa for lack of probable cause. The decision, penned by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Elsie M. Sendico and approved by Provincial Prosecutor Rodrigo Diaz, affirmed: “No probable cause exists against respondents.”
“There was no iota of evidence pointing to respondents’ culpability as the author of the purported falsification,” the decision read. “There was no showing that he caused the preparation of the said petition nor the solicitation of the signatures therein.”
Complainants Jocelyn Tablanza and Herma Vinson claimed Chiong, in a complaint-letter filed with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) accusing former Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña of habitual absenteeism, attached a petition containing their signatures.
The two said their signatures were “fake and falsified” and accused the TFK official of gathering the signatures with the help of Yasa, a former municipal councilor for the said locality.
Meanwhile, Chiong said the petition, which he claims was left in his office by anonymous individuals, was endorsed to the DILG as part of the groups advocacy platform. The TFK official also said he did not participate in the gathering of signatures.
Yasa did not file her counter-affidavit./DGB, WDJ