Former world champion Alex Pagulayan yesterday filed a libel case against billiards officials Yen Makabenta and Ernesto Fajardo and asked for more than six million pesos worth of damages.
The Fil-Canadian cue artist personally filed his complaint in Pasig Regional Trial Court before 2nd Assistant City Prosecutor Maria Anunciacion Hipol.
He was accompanied by his lawyer Alexis Abastillas-Suarez of Malaya-Sanchez-Anover and-Anover law firm. Marquee players Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Roberto Gomez and Joven Bustamante and Bugsy Promotions owner Perry Mariano were also with him for morale support.
Pagulayan filed a case against the respondents a year after the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines officials accused him of ‘sharking' (an act of disrupting ones opponent to win) in the Singapore leg Guinness 9-Ball Tour.
According to the 30-year-old Pagulayan' sworn testimony, he was also called ‘disgraceful loser' and a ‘liar'.
Pagulayan is asking for Php3Million for the supposed endorsement from Andoks Lechon before he was prevented by the BSCP from joining the next leg of the Tour and another Php3M for morale damages.
He is also seeking Php500,000 for exemplary damages, Attorney's fee of Php200,000, court trial fee of Php100,000 and additional Php50,000 for appearances etc.
On top of it, Pagulayan is asking for a maximum imprisonment of six years for both Makabenta and Fajardo.
Meanwhile, Mariano, also an incorporator in the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines , bared there more lawsuits to follow.
“These cases being filed against abusive officials of the BSCP would vindicate everybody. There are more serious criminal cases to be filed soon so that the public and government would know the real issues,” Mariano said.
Pagulayan Sues Makabenta, Fajardo
July 14, 2008