Radaza sued for P1.3M jewelry debt, says issue recycled
By Ador Vincent MayolLAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza was sued for allegedly failing to pay P1.3 million for jewelry items bought from a friend in 2009.
A complaint for sum of money and damages was filed by Virginia Arnibal against the mayor before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.
Arnibal said the mayor should pay her debt amounting to P1,326,100 on top of legal interest and P50,000 as litigation expenses.
Radaza, in a press statement, said the case was a recycled issue brought up in the 2010 election and that she would file countercharges over the “malicious” complaint.
“I am sad and angry at the same time that someone I thought I considered a friend since the ’70s has tarnished my name and family,” she said.
Razada said she thought the jewelry she gave to Arnibal in 2009 meant that she had already fully paid off her obligation.
“The items that I returned to her were valued more than what she claimed that I owed her,” the mayor said.
Radaza said Arnibal earlier approached the media on the eve of the 2010 elections with her “false claim.”
“I did not give much attention to it since I was fully convinced that I had settled whatever my dues and that the jewelry that I gave her was valued three times the amount of what she insisted that I owned her. Now with the elections about to hit fever pitch, she is at it again,” she said.
The mayor said she has instructed her lawyers to prepare counter charges agianst Arnibal.
In her complaint, Arnibal said she knew Radaza since 1976 when Radaza was still employed with the Far East Bank and Trust Corp. in Tipolo, Mandaue City.
Arnibal, who was connected with Silver Marketing Corp, was engaged in the jewelry business.
Arnibal said she didn’t document her transactions with Radaza since their “relationship was founded on trust.”
She said she transacted with Radaza since 2004, delivering jewelry to Radaza’s house in barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City and going there to pick up payments in check or cash.
She said Radaza made her last payment on May 6, 2009, with a check for P125,000 to settle her balance of P2,775,000
Annibal said that when she asked Radaza to settle her dues, Radaza turned over to her jewelry pieces worth P1,448,900 through a house-helper.
However, the jewelry was not the same items she had earlier delivered, said Arnibal.
Arnibal said she sought a lawyer’s help to demand payment of P1,326,100 from Radaza but was not answered.
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