KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/16 May) — A former congressman of North Cotabato has filed a P2.4-million damage suit against his successor, Rep. Nancy Catamco, her brother, and a supporter for allegedly destroying his person and integrity.
Bernardo Pinol Jr., filed the civil case at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 17 here, around 1130 a.m., on Tuesday.
Pinol said the multi-million suit, docketed as Civil Case No. 292-112, stemmed from a rape case filed against him shortly before the May 2010 elections by Ronald Catamco and Rengie Oclarit, one of Catamco’s staunch supporters.
Pinol accused the congresswoman of using Oclarit and the rape complaint to destroy him and influence the outcome of the election.
He said that a day before the election, Catamco’s camp circulated flyers, pamphlets, and other handouts about the alleged rape.
“This was how Catamco’s camp destroyed my person. She used black propaganda,” he said.
Pinol filed the case two years after the event alleged in his complaint.
“I had to consider lots of things before doing this. My wife and my children wanted justice so here am I doing the act, which I believe, would prove that what Catamco and her camp did in May 2010 was wicked, wrong,” he said.
Pinol is seeking P2.4 million in moral damages.
Catamco called Pinol’s act unreasonable and irrational.
“First, Pinol filed the damage suit two years after the rape case was dismissed. Why do it now? I supposed it’s highly-politicized,” she said.
“If he runs next year so be it. I don’t care. Just don’t use dirty politics. He accused me of black propaganda? But people know who used such style during elections. It was not me for sure,” the lawmaker said.
Catamco won against Piñol by 6,677 votes. She got 119,294 votes against Piñol’s 112,617 votes. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)