Pilapil files raps against solon’s niece

CEBUANA actress and former beauty queen Pilar Pilapil filed criminal charges against the niece of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district who reportedly tried to eject her from a contested lot in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan town in Cebu.

Charges of “grave oral defamation, grave coercion, and unjust vexation” were filed by Pilapil against Ulpa Novabos Salimbangon, whom she accused of allegedly calling her a “trespasser.”

Pilapil claimed to be the lawful owner of a parcel of land in Malapascua Island acquired from Lily Monteclar, Ulpa’s sister, in 2002.

She said she verified the boundaries of the property where she built her P10 million home, restaurant and a staff house.

In the two years that she built her home, Pilapil said nobody complained that she encroached on their area.

It was only last year that she received a written complaint from Ulpa, claiming that she encroached on a portion of the Salimbangon property.

Pilapil said she tried to settle the issue with Salimbangon before the Office of the Barangay Captain of Malapascua.

She said she was willing to buy the  portion of the lot that she allegedly encroached on.

Last March 11 Ulpa together with policemen, a barangay councilor, ronda tanods and several men went to her home to demolish the structures.

Pilapil said Ulpa fenced the boundary line of the encroached portion of the lot.

“Clearly, she (Salimbangon) was out to smear my reputation,” Pilapil said in her affidavit filed before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office last week.

She is demanding payment for damages of at least P5 million.

Pilapil earlier filed a separate civil suit in court against Salimbangon.

The actress is also demanding P1 million in moral damages, P100,000 in attorney’s fees and P75,000 in litigation expenses from Salimbangon and Ulpa.

Rep. Salimbangon declined to comment on the incident, saying the case is between Pilapil and his niece only. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol