Davidson Bangayan set to file libel complaint vs FPI chair

Davidson Bangayan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Controversial businessman Davidson Bangayan is set to file libel charges this week against Jesus Arranza, chair of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), which groups some 800 business companies in the country.

Bangayan, who described himself as a “scrap metal trader, not the David Tan being referred to in the news reports” as the Goliath of rice smuggling in the country, told the Inquirer on Saturday he would “definitely sue (the FPI head) for libel.”

The 33-year-old Bangayan assailed what he called an “orchestrated hatchet job” against him and dismissed allegations made by Arranza as “falsehoods.”

“They are also unfounded, speculative and preposterous,” said Bangayan.

Sought for comment, Arranza said, “It’s (Bangayan’s) right to sue me for libel but it’s also my right to defend myself. In fact, several lawyers have already volunteered their legal services.”

He warned that the libel charges would not stop him from exposing further David Tan’s involvement in illegal trading activities.

The FPI chair had told reporters David Tan was the “alias of a certain Davidson Tan Bangayan, a Chinese-Filipino from Davao City.”

Arranza described Bangayan as a “former scrap metal trader before going into rice smuggling.”