NAGA CITY---A man accused of buying and using stolen pipes to construct a kitchen in a house in Iriga City lashed at a city councilor there who exposed the said incident in a privilege speech.

        In a statement sent to the Bicol Mail, Henry Almazan said that Councilor Rodolfo Tino has “accused and at the same time sweepingly convicted” him of theft after police officers allegedly found the stolen pipes used in the construction of the dirty kitchen in his house.

        Almazan said that Tino besmirched his name and family beyond repair when he maliciously imputed him and denied him of his absolute right to due process.

        He said he was not given the opportunity to present his side and the councilor has not verified the facts which, he said, was otherwise expected of him being an “honorable public servant”.

        “Of course you (Tino) can always hide behind the cloak of parliamentary immunity, but this privilege speech does not give the license to be callous to the rights, reputation and feelings of innocent people,” Almazan added.

        He said he has not been part of any crime that’s why he allowed P/Supt. Tomasito Clet and City Engineer Pelagion C. Audal to inspect his dirty kitchen without demanding a search warrant.

        “I fully knew that I have nothing to hide and I am not guilty of any offense, crime or otherwise. I did not even know their purpose until they informed me about the alleged missing pipes at the City Engineer’s Office,” Almazan said.

        He denied he attempted to negotiate with the city administration regarding the alleged missing materials.

        “If it will be proven that the pipes in my dirty kitchen which I bought in full good faith were indeed the missing ones from the City Engineer’s Office, then the legal authorities have my full cooperation as I cannot, in conscience, utilize an illegally procured material,” Almazan said.

        He said that he is aware that buying stolen materials violates the Anti-Fencing Law and added that his family has not been involved in illegal transactions.

        Almazan said that in a sworn statement he indicated “to talk (to) the mayor or pay for the pipes if it is proven with certainty that what was sold to him were the missing pipes.

        He reasoned that if he was indeed conspiring with the pipe theft he could have had refused entry to the investigating government officials because they did not present search warrant.

        “I could have easily twisted the circumstances regarding the procurement of my pipes in the dirty kitchen and avoided mentioning the name of the seller in order to mislead the policemen. This I will never do as my conscience is clear,” Almazan explained.

        He said he is the administrator of the properties owned by his brother Edgar Almazan and wife Dr. Marietta N. Almazan, who are residing in the United States of America.

        Almazan said that because of the publication of the story in the Bicol Mail using the contents of Tino’s privilege speech, his brother and sister-in-law were implicated as well and that the latter’s friends in Filipino community in California made embarrassing queries.

        He demanded apology from Tino within five days upon receipt of his letter dated August 2, 2006 and that he will pursue a case if the councilor would not heed his demand.