Mayor Treñas critic indicted for cyber libel

ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted Nereo Lujan, a known critic of Mayor Jerry Treñas here, for three counts of cyber libel.

ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Nereo Lujan (left photo) during happier times and when Lujan (right) filed administrative complaints against the mayor before the Ombudsman last July. (Nereo Lujan/FB)

Assistant City Prosecutor Caryl Kate Fabella-Genova junked Lujan’s October 2024 motion for reconsideration on the cyber libel complaint filed by Treñas last year.

Genova determined that the Facebook posts of Lujan intended to besmirch the reputation of Treñas.

“The resolution reaffirms that freedom of expression does not give anyone the right to ridicule, humiliate, or maliciously put a public servant to shame,” said Treñas in a statement released on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

“While public officials are open to criticism, such freedom must not be abused to unjustly tarnish reputations through baseless and defamatory imputations,” added Treñas.

Treñas filed the complaint against Lujan last May when the Treñas administration faced backlash for the total demolition of Central Market, a known heritage building here, without informing the public.

Lujan, a former journalist and information chief of the Iloilo provincial government, was among those who criticized Treñas.

It is unclear which Facebook post Lujan was indicted for.

Lujan, in a statement to the Iloilo media, said he has not received a copy of the prosecutor’s resolution.

He questioned why the prosecutor’s decision was leaked to the Iloilo media.

“This highlights the intent to manipulate public perception. This is clearly an attempt by Mayor Treñas to discredit me in light of my continued criticism of his kind of governance,” said Lujan.

“Let me emphasize that an indictment is not a conviction. This case will still go through due process. Rest assured, we will exhaust all legal remedies in our pursuit of justice,” added Lujan.

Lujan filed administrative complaints against Treñas before the Ombudsman for the alleged illegal demolition of the Central Market.