Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Friday he is seriously considering filing a libel complaint against individuals accusing him of receiving luggage filled with cash, calling the allegation baseless and politically motivated.
Adiong, spokesperson of the House prosecution panel in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, is among the lawmakers accused by a group of 18 former Marine officers of allegedly receiving cash supposedly delivered on behalf of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
“Nung unang lumabas ‘yan, hindi ko pinansin ‘yan kasi sabi ko sobrang kalokohan naman ‘yan,” Adiong said.
He said some lawyers had earlier advised him to file a libel complaint, but he initially ignored the allegations because he believed they had no basis.
“Actually, I was advised by some of my lawyers na sinabi nila mag-file na lang ako ng libel. Sabi ko, sige na, wala namang katotohanan ‘yan. I brushed it off,” he said.
Adiong said he is now reconsidering legal action after the allegations were raised before the Senate.
“But now that they have tried to move this to another level, I think I’m now contemplating on filing them a serious charge, libel,” he said.
The lawmaker said the issue has gone beyond a personal attack, arguing that the Senate is being used to push what he described as a diversion from the impeachment proceedings.
“Parang hindi [lang] nila inatake ‘yung individual na perceived to be their enemies but they’re also hostaging the Senate,” Adiong said.
“Ginagamit nila ang Senado para i-hostage ang trabaho ng Senado at the same time para ilihis ang tunay na usapin dito, which is impeachment,” he added.
The allegations surfaced during a Senate inquiry pushed by a bloc led by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Adiong said the controversy has diverted Senate time away from priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, including the proposed KALINGA Act, a House-approved measure meant to protect Filipinos from economic shocks, energy crises, and supply disruptions.
“They’ve been hostaging the Senate session na hindi nila in-approve o napag-usapan ang counterpart measures ng KALINGA Act,” he said.
He said the delay affects ordinary Filipinos because important legislation is being sidelined by what he called a political public relations effort.
Adiong also questioned why senators who earlier refused to sign a partial report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under then-chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson are now pushing to continue the inquiry.
“Why? Ayaw nila, nag-refuse. Kaya ngayon din napag-usapan ang partial committee report ng Blue Ribbon ng chairman, si Sen. Ping Lacson, dahil ayaw nilang pumirma, eh. And now that they have already taken over the helm of the Senate, they’re now pushing for the continuation,” he said.
He also pointed out that the former Marine officers had reportedly refused to execute sworn affidavits for the Senate’s official records.
“Eh mismong ang mga Marines, ayaw naman nila mag-sign ng affidavit nila as part of the official record ng Senate. Ayaw nila dahil ayaw nilang makasuhan sila ng perjury. Ayaw nila mag-perjure. Anong klase ‘yan?” Adiong said.
Adiong maintained that the allegations are part of an effort to confuse the public and derail accountability proceedings against the Vice President.
“So ang gusto nila is mag-build up ng PR stunt to derail, to confuse the public and derail itong usapin ng accountability against the vice president,” he said.
“But the people knew that these people are nothing but for PR stunt,” he added.