Bicol online writer nabbed for libel case in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY—Online writer Elmer James Bandol was about to leave his home in Daraga town, Albay province, when policemen came to arrest him on Wednesday and brought him the next day to Masbate province on a libel case filed against him two years ago by an official of the Masbate Electric Cooperative (Maselco).

Members of the Daraga police served a warrant of arrest issued against Bandol by Judge Honesto Villamor of the Regional Trial Court Branch 44 in Masbate City, according to Senior Supt. Marlo Meneses, Albay police director.

Bandol, 59, writes for bicoltoday.com and CBCPNews.com, and contributes to newspapers in Bicol.

The libel complaint was filed in July 2012 by Eduardo Margallo of Maselco, stemming from an article titled “314 million pesos losses of Masbate power coop traced to mismanagement—NEA,” which was published in bicoltoday.com <https://bicoltoday.com/?p=4463> on Dec. 14, 2011.

Bandol had claimed in the article that Margallo, the general manager, was using the cooperative’s resources for personal reasons.

The court has recommended a bail of P10,000 for his temporary liberty, Meneses said.

PO2 Michael Apostol of the Daraga police said Bandol was brought to Masbate at 2 a.m. on Thursday on board a commercial ferry.