Lawmaker denies ‘kickback’ allegations, files libel cases

MANILA REP. Bienvenido “Benny” M. Abante, Jr. on Tuesday filed cyberlibel and libel complaints against lawyer Levito D. Baligod, the 18 bagmen, and a media outlet over claims linking him to an alleged kickback scheme.

In a statement, Mr. Abante said he filed the complaints before the Manila Prosecutors Office after the accusations against him were made during a Feb. 24 press conference and later circulated on social media.

In his complaint-affidavit, the lawmaker strongly denied the allegations.

“I vehemently deny the incorrect, baseless, and/or misleading allegations made by the complainants in the Libelous Salaysay (narrative) distributed and made known to the media and public during the Libelous Press Conference,” Mr. Abante said, noting the story was later published in the Facebook page of the respondent media outlet.

He said that the allegations falsely portrayed him as one of the alleged recipients of public funds delivered through suitcases.

“Simply put, the unsigned and unnotarized Libelous Salaysay alleges that I, a public servant, was one of the recipients of ‘kickbacks,’” he said.

Mr. Baligod did not immediately respond to a Viber message seeking comment.

According to the congressman, the respondents chose to expose their accusations to the public instead of going through the proper forums.

Mr. Abante also insisted that he has no connection with the 18 bagmen and that he had nothing to do with the alleged delivery of money from former Congressman Elizaldy S. Co.

The lawmaker also criticized the alleged lack of evidence in the allegations against him, questioning the discrepancies between the unsigned and unnotarized document presented at the press conference and the sworn statement later submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mr. Abante also said that the allegations have caused significant damage to his reputation as an elected official.

The lawmaker is also asking prosecutors to find probable cause and file cyberlibel and libel cases against maliciously spreading the allegation on traditional and online platforms.

According to his complaint, the evidence gathered is sufficient to establish a prima facie basis to hold the respondents liable under existing law against libel and cyberlibel.

Meanwhile, the Palace characterized recent revelations from 18 former bodyguards of fugitive Mr. Co as unreliable and unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny.

“Garbage… These kinds of statements that were also criticized as why the lawyer is speaking and not the 18 cargo boys or 18 maleta boys, will not stand up in court,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said during a news briefing on Tuesday in Filipino.

She said that the inconsistent nature of the claims would preclude them from being accepted as evidence.

“These kinds of inconsistent statements, they will not stand up to the thorough study and analysis of the court. Here we can see what kind of stories they are telling just to be malicious,” she said.

The group, which gained prominence for claiming they were former Marine officers tasked by Mr. Co to deliver suitcases of cash to various public officials, and for implicating President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has been appearing at Senate hearings to testify in an alleged multibillion-peso flood control scandal. — Pexcel John Bacon and Erika Mae P. Sinaking