On Tuesday, Bello posted in his Facebook account stating “Sara with a drug dealer? If Davao City is so ‘multi-awarded,’ why is it that ….Mayor Duterte’s Press Information Officer Jefry Tupas was nabbed at a beach party where he and her friends were snorting P1.5 million worth of drugs on November 6,2021? That she did not know she was sheltering a drug dealer is not credible.”
Europa in a press conference on Thursday in Davao City said there is a need to correct the unfair, unjust and baseless labeling of Mr. Tupas as a drug dealer, saying this simply is not true.
Europa said Bello’s statement, which was also heard over a digital online interview, was a very serious criminal act, a very very serious accusation without any evidence.
“Jefry Tupas called me up. He was emotionally distraught and emotionally bothered because he is receiving attacks . However, quite recently there’s another attack and this time coming from a vice presidential candidate Walden Bello. It was really below the belt. Nakakagalit, nakakalungkot yong ginawa ni Bello in an online interview and facebook post,” Europa said.
According to Europa, Jefry was never indicted, was never arrested in relation to the case that Mr. Bello was talking about.
“I know this because I am also the Lawyer of some of those who were arrested and indicted in that case,” Europa added.
The Lawyer said he has known Tupas for a very very long time.
“You can call him a lot of colorful things but he is certainly not a drug dealer,” Europa further said.
“Ang masakit nito,na invite lang siya sa party, drug dealer kana? Drug addict ka na? This is guilty by association.”
Europa emphasized that Tupas is already a private citizen. “It was really unfair and illegal for him to be portrayed as a drug addict and called a drug dealer,” he said.
He said he is drafting the complaint and he is seriously considering filing the proper charges for cyber libel. However, he said it’s going to be up to Tupas whether or not he decides to go on with it.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Caprio had fired Tupas, following the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) buy-bust operation at the beach party in Davao de Oro’s Mabini town buy-bust operation in November 15,2021.
Tupas, signified his resignation, however he was informed that he is terminated from work with the City Government of Davao.
Tupas confirmed attending the party but said he left after eating and prior to the buy-bust operation by PDEA agents.
During the operation, at least 17 suspects were arrested that yielded about P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs, including suspected shabu, party drug tablets/capsules, liquid party drugs and lysergic acid diethylamide.
Attorney Caesar Europa
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