City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad announced on Friday that his legal counsel are readying a civil case against the Gawad Amerika Awards Night (Philippines) after its awarding body the Director of Operations in the country declared null and void the Certificate of Recognition given to him during the 17th Annual Gawad Amerika Awards Night 2018 held last August 18, 2018 at Celebrity Centre International, Hollywood, California.
Natividad went to the US and recieved the “Most Outstanding Mayor/ Public Servant of Malolos City” award together with two other Bulacan mayors including Plaridel Mayor Jocell Vistan and CSJD Mayor Arthur Robes.
It was learned that on October 18 of same year, Natividad received a letter from a certain Joey Sarmiento, Director of Operations of Gawad Amerika Awards Night, Philippines telling him that the Gawad Amerika officers, board and members, declared the recognition null and void.
The complainant is set to file the case on Monday against Sarmiento and to the Gawad Amerika, Philippines with Satellite office address in 3L Mahogany Mansions, San Rafael St., Mandaluyong City where he will ask to pay him US$100,000 or P5.291 million as damages for the humiliation and public ridicule he suffered after the awards were declared null and void.
Atty. Carlo Jolette Fajardo, Natividad’s lawyer said the cause of his complainant’s action was stated on Article 19 of the Civil Code that: “Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith”.
Fajardo added the respondents abused its rights and is liable for damages for inviting Natividad to the United States to received an award, only to rescind the award without any due process.
Natividad said he received the letter of Sarmiento a day after he filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) as aspirant for gubernatorial race in Bulacan and he believed the issue was merely part of a demolition job against him by his political rivals.
It was also learned that what was puzzled Natividad is Sarmiento informed him canceling the certificate of recognition and not the award because no one from the officials of the Gawad Amerika in Hollywood had informed him regarding Sarmiento’s claim.