Jing Paras mulls filing charges vs. Villarin for ‘destroying his name’

Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said Thursday he is considering to file charges against Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin for allegedly destroying his name.  

In a statement, Paras called out Villarin for using the plenary to spread lies and accusations against him. He questioned the lawmaker’s personality for calling for his ban from the House.

“Who is he to call for disallowing me from entering the House. I’ve been a three-termer congressman and I earned the good image of being decent and hard working. I am, therefore, studying to file a case for damages against him for destroying my good name,” he said.

Villarin, in a privilege speech, sought to ban the former congressman from entering the premises of the House of Representatives after he filed a theft complaint against the latter.

He accused the Labor executive of stealing his iPhone X during one of the hearings at the House of Representatives last March.

But Paras said: “Villarin is the one who is indecent. Using the plenary to deliver his so called privilege speech to spread his lies and make malicious accusation against me is cowardice.” 

“He said he already filed a complaint for theft against me, so why does he not wait for me to receive a copy of his complaint and let me answer it,” he added.

The Labor official, who has admitted to taking Villarin’s cellphone by mistake, said he is entitled to due process of law.

He accused Villarin of using squid tactics because the latter’s complaint is very weak and has no leg to stand.

“That is why he is using the privilege speech as his political propaganda ahead of the dismissal of his  complaint which has no basis in law. He cannot get the proper authority to rule in his favor because he is a big liar,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News