Immorality case vs. Gov. Tallado junked

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has junked for lack of merit the charges of disgraceful and immoral conduct, Article 200 of the Revised Penal Code, filed against Governor Edgardo Tallado of this province.

In the six-page resolution of the OMB dated July 10, 2015, Tallado was found not liable for the charges against him because the case has no probable cause.

The OMB’s ruling on the case filed against the governor by Jonel Revuelta Banal was signed by Preliminary Investigation and Adjudication Bureau Director Nellie P. Boguen-Golez and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales in Quezon City.

The case filed by Banal stemmed from Tallado’s involvement in a controversial sex scandal that went viral on the Internet with pictures supposedly of the governor and his alleged mistress in an uncompromising situation.

Banal, in his complaint, cited pronouncements in media of Gov. Tallado’s wife, Josie, about her the supposed mistress and the scandalous photos as having put the image of the Office of the Governor and the province itself in disrepute.

However, the OMB found no merit in the case filed by Banal, saying a third party to the first couple is a family problem which can be resolved on their own or in a right forum.

“In this instance, the said allegation has not been proven due to lack of testimony of the first lady to the office of the Ombudsman, which is considered hearsay on the part of Mr. Banal that could not be presented as evidence in the court,” the resolution said.