MANILA, Philippines -- A 76-year-old lawyer has filed a libel complaint against Metro Manila?s police chief and two other men for allegedly naming him as one of the accused in a swindling case.

Charged by Vicente Millora in his nine-page complaint filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor?s Office were Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director; Arcadio Lugod and Non Alquitran, a reporter of the Philippine Star.

The complaint was filed on Tuesday, September 29, a day after the allegedly libelous story was published in the broadsheet.

At the same time, Millora asked the court to award him P10 million in damages.

The article, titled ?Metro cops bust demolition men,? reported the arrest of two businessmen and two subcontractors ?for allegedly swindling their victims of millions of pesos by promising to demolish old structures.?

Lugod was identified in the story as the complainant against the four men.

He claimed that the four asked him for money in exchange for demolishing old buildings.

The article, written by Alquitran, named Millora and two others as ?the subjects of a massive manhunt by the NCRPO.? It also said that a case had been filed against Millora and company with the Manila City Prosecutor?s Office.

Millora, however, branded the story as false as his name was not among those listed in the charge sheet.

?Respondents very well know that the publication is false, considering that the case is connected with a complaint [filed] in Manila, where the name of the complainant is not mentioned as accused,? he said in his complaint.

He added that his name was also not listed as one of the accused in the criminal information filed with the Manila regional trial court Branch 25 on September 22.

?The article which stated that the complainant is among the subjects of [a] massive manhunt is evidently, manifestly and absolutely false and malicious,? he said.

Millora added that the story placed him in a bad light and embarrassed him before his family, friends and associates as he was depicted as ?a wanted person? and a ?fugitive from justice.?

The Philippine Daily Inquirer contacted Rosales on his cell phone for comment but his aide said he was in a conference and could not give a statement. With Allison W. Lopez