Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint for cyberlibel and libel against lawyer Levito Baligod, 18 former bodyguards of dismissed Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and radio station DWSI 864 over what he described as “incorrect, baseless, and misleading” allegations that he received luggage filled with cash.
In a complaint-affidavit filed before the Office of the Prosecutor in Manila, Abante asked prosecutors to charge the respondents with cyberlibel under Article 355 in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, or in the alternative, libel under the Revised Penal Code.
Aside from Baligod, the complaint also named as respondents Belnard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontate, Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilio Larroder Jr., Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz, and Walter Manalansan.
Also named as a respondent was DWSI 864, a radio station owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corp., the same company behind SMNI, for allegedly disseminating the questioned statements through its Facebook platform and other media channels.
The complaint stemmed from the publication and dissemination of an unsigned and unnotarized “Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay” dated Feb. 23, which allegedly insinuated that Abante was among House members who received public funds in cash-filled luggage.
“For the record, I vehemently deny the incorrect, baseless, and/or misleading allegations made by the complainants in the Libelous Salaysay distributed and made known to the media and public during the Libelous Press Conference, and thereafter published on respondent DWSI’s Facebook page through the Libelous Post,” Abante said in his affidavit.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights and former minority leader and deputy speaker, said the allegations were aired during a Feb. 24 press conference led by Baligod and later disseminated through DWSI platforms and social media.
“The Respondents falsely insinuate that I (among others) received luggage containing cash from public funds. These allegations are entirely false, maliciously fabricated, and without any basis in fact or law,” Abante said.
According to the complaint, the former bodyguards of Co claimed that public funds amounting to PHP805 billion had been distributed in luggage to several personalities.
Abante dismissed the allegation as implausible and unsupported by evidence.
“Clearly, the mention of PHP805 billion is only to incite further outrage from the public and not to reveal supposed truths,” he said.
Abante argued that the respondents chose to publicly air their “unsigned and unnotarized” allegations rather than first bringing them before the proper authorities.
He also cited what he described as material differences between the unsigned document circulated during the press conference and the notarized affidavit later filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as Baligod’s reported admission that the inclusion of Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima in the earlier document may have been an “oversight.”
“This discrepancy all the more exposes their malicious intent and recognition of the original’s falsity, forcing revision before swearing to its contents under oath,” Abante said. “This blatant vacillation not only shreds their credibility but cements the tale as malicious fiction.”
He noted that the allegations failed to provide specific dates, places, or circumstances supporting the claims.
“Significantly, the allegations lack any specific date or circumstance of the claimed delivery and receipt, while photographs show only cash, luggage, and strangers, establishing nothing. Coupled with their groundless tale, this amounts to nothing more than smoke and mirrors slander,” he said.
The complaint also alleged that the accusations were repeated during a June 4 proceeding, which Abante described as a purported Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing convened by senators allied with former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
“This constitutes a fresh and separate publication of the same libelous imputations, compounding the damage already inflicted on my reputation and demonstrating a continuing malicious campaign rather than a single isolated act,” he said.
Abante further argued that the respondents acted with actual malice by publicly circulating an unsigned and unnotarized document despite having access to proper legal remedies.
“This deliberate choice reveals not merely an intent to tarnish my reputation, but a calculated design to incite public outrage and prejudice any ensuing investigation by the Ombudsman or other authorities, constituting irrefutable trial by publicity,” he said.
The complaint also seeks the filing of any other charges that prosecutors may deem warranted based on the evidence presented. (PNA)