MANILA — Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. filed criminal complaints for cyberlibel and libel against lawyer Levito Baligod, 18 former bodyguards of dismissed Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and a radio station over allegations linking him to supposed cash-filled luggage.

In a complaint-affidavit filed before the Office of the Prosecutor in Manila, Abante sought 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 alternatively, libel under the Revised Penal Code.

Named respondents include Baligod, 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 included as respondent is DWSI 864, a radio station owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corp., which is also linked to SMNI, for allegedly publishing the statements through its Facebook page and other platforms.

The complaint stemmed from the circulation of an unsigned and unnotarized “Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay” dated Feb. 23, which allegedly suggested that Abante and other House members received public funds contained in 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.

Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights and is a former minority leader and deputy speaker, said the statements were aired during a Feb. 24 press conference led by Baligod and later circulated through media and social media platforms.

“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,” he said.

The complainant said the former bodyguards claimed that public funds amounting to PHP805 billion were distributed in luggage to various individuals, which he dismissed as baseless.

“Clearly, the mention of PHP805 billion is only to incite further outrage from the public and not to reveal supposed truths,” he said.

Abante also argued that the respondents aired the allegations publicly instead of bringing them first to proper authorities, and pointed to differences between the unsigned document presented during the press conference and a later notarized affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He also cited 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.”

Abante further said the allegations lacked specific details such as dates, locations, or circumstances, and described the claims as unsupported by evidence.

“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.

He also said the same accusations were repeated during a June 4 proceeding he described as a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, which he said was 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 added that the respondents showed actual malice by publicly circulating the unsigned document instead of pursuing 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 asks prosecutors to file any other charges that may be warranted based on the evidence presented.