DOLE Usec. Paras summoned by QC prosecutor over cellphone theft complaint

Labor Undersecretary Jacinto "Jing" Paras has been summoned to the Quezon City Prosecutors' Office for its preliminary investigation into the complaint for theft a party-list representative filed against him.

Paras, along with the complainant himself Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin, was commanded and required by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Rodrigo Del Rosario to appear before the prosecutors' office on July 2 and 16.

Rosario, in the subpoena he issued, said any motion to dismiss would no longer be entertained and only counter-affidavits would be accepted.

LOOK: Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, Labor USec Jing Paras summoned to QC Prosecutor's Office as part of preliminary investigation of Villarin's theft complaint vs. Paras. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/tmEQEGgIk1

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) June 14, 2018

Villarin was instructed to subscribe and affirm his complaint-affidavit on record and submit photographs of the phone that Paras allegedly took from him.

Villarin filed the complaint for theft against Paras after the latter allegedly took his iPhone X during one of the hearings at the House of Representatives last March.

Paras denied Villarin's allegations against him.

"Bakit ko naman nanakawin yung cellphone niya? [Isasangkalan] ko yung buong reputation ko at buhay para manakaw lang yung cellphone niya?" he said.

"If I have intention to steal his cellphone, bakit niya narecover at bakit naiwan lang sa Congress? Kung magnanakaw ako, edi inuwi ko yung cellphone niya," he added.

Villarin has also sought to ban Paras from the premises of the House of Representatives. —NB/BM, GMA News