IRIGA CITY—A city councilor here who has accused a family of obtaining alleged stolen pipes, has issued a letter of apology following complaint that the unfounded accusation has besmirched the name of the accused family.

        Councilor Rodolfo L. Tino, Jr extended his apology to the family of Henry Almazan here who was identified in the privilege speech as the one who bought the alleged stolen pipes and installed the same in their dirty kitchen.

        Tino made the expose which a Bicol Mail correspondent picked up as material for news item that came out in July, 2006.

        The story, according to Almazan, besmirched his family’s name beyond repair when the councilor maliciously imputed him and denied him of his right to due process.

        Almazan 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”.

        The alleged buyer of the alleged stolen pipes 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 among Filipino community in California, USA made embarrassing queries.

        “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 stated in his letter demanding for apology.

        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.

        In his letter of apology the councilor stated: “As you too deserve protection and respect like the rest of Iriga from your very public servant and as I felt that you were hurt by those statements in my privilege speech, you have my apology. I am sorry. As human being, that was a mere lapse of judgment.”

        In an investigation report dated Aug. 26 and signed by SPO1 Miguelito O. Borromeo, case investigator, and Iriga City police chief Police Supt. Tomasito T. Clet, it was reported that they did not find pipes allegedly stolen from the City Engineering Office at the dirty kitchen of Almazan.

        Tino also admitted that he did not bother to ask the personal background or immediate relatives of those mentioned in the investigation.

        “I have no ill will or spite against you (Almazan). It was not my intention nor have (I) any motive to dishonor, discredit your name. It is just very unfortunate that you are named in this incident,” the councilor further stated.

        Pointing responsibility for the loss of pipes at the engineering office and failing to identify the thief, the police investigation report accused the security guard assigned that time for negligence.

        The investigation report further elaborated that “it is quite doubtful that the perpetrator sneakily entered the compound and took the said missing items unnoticed piece by piece at separate occasions considering the prevailing situation”.

        It recommended that the guards be administratively sanctioned and Almazan be “stripped of any liability based on the findings of the city engineer”.