Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. has filed cyber libel and libel complaints before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office against lawyer Levito Baligod, 18 former Marines, and media outlet DWSI 864 over allegations linking him to the supposed distribution of cash-filled luggage.
In his complaint-affidavit, Abante denied the accusations, which were aired during a February 24 press conference and later circulated on social media.
“For the record, I vehemently deny the incorrect, baseless, and/or misleading allegations made by the complainants,” Abante said, referring to the statement presented during the press conference and later posted on DWSI’s Facebook page.
The lawmaker said the allegations falsely portrayed him as a recipient of public funds supposedly delivered through luggage containing cash.
“Simply put, the unsigned and unnotarized Libelous Salaysay alleges that I, a public servant, was one of the recipients of ‘kickbacks’,” Abante said.
He called the claim “completely false and untrue,” maintaining that the statements were baseless, misleading, and damaging to his reputation.
The complaint argued that the respondents chose to publicize the accusations before the matter could be properly evaluated by authorities, resulting in what Abante described as a trial by publicity.
“To make matters worse, the Libelous Press Conference brazenly paraded the Libelous Salaysay, then still unsigned by the 18 Marine Respondents and unnotarized, thus not under oath, before the public eye,” the complaint read.
Abante said the respondents should have brought the matter before the proper forum instead of holding a public press conference and circulating the allegations online.
The House human rights panel chairperson also questioned the credibility of the allegations, saying he had never met any of the 18 individuals and had no involvement in any alleged money deliveries.
“For the record, I have never dealt with or ever seen any of the respondents. I have no dealings with regard to deliveries of money from former representative Zaldy Co,” he said.
Abante also said the claims lacked specific details, including the date, circumstances, or proof of any alleged delivery or receipt of money.
“Photographs show only cash, luggage, and strangers, establishing nothing,” he said, describing the allegations as “smoke and mirrors slander.”
The complaint also cited alleged inconsistencies between the unsigned document circulated during the press conference and the notarized affidavit later submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman. It also pointed to subsequent statements made by Baligod concerning former senator and now party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
According to the complaint, these circumstances showed “a reckless disregard for truth” and indicated that the allegations were “patently unreliable and contrived.”
Abante said the accusations seriously damaged his reputation and cast doubt on his integrity as an elected public official.
“This unduly and unfairly damages my reputation and casts doubt on my integrity as a duly elected official,” he said.
He asked prosecutors to find probable cause and file cyber libel and libel charges against the respondents, arguing that the allegations were maliciously published through both traditional and online platforms.
Abante maintained that the evidence presented in his complaint establishes a prima facie basis to hold the respondents liable for cyber libel and libel.