De Lima, priest sue Baligod, ‘ex-Marines’ for cyberlibel
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and 2025 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva on Monday filed cyberlibel complaints against lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 alleged former Marines who claimed to be “bagmen” of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and who implicated their names in a supposed bribery scheme.
In an ambush interview before arriving at the National Bureau of Investigation, De Lima said it was not the first time she was targeted with allegations to “besmirch my reputation and smear my name.”
“They have done it before. They are doing it again. So not again. I will not allow them to tarnish my character, my name again for whatever agenda they have,” De Lima said in Filipino. “They must pay for that.”
For his part, Villanueva said the complaint was meant to put an end to the “lies” and to allow “the truth to stand.”
After the filing at the NBI, De Lima and Villanueva proceeded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) where they also filed perjury complaints against the same parties.
De Lima and Villanueva were among the personalities named by Baligod and the supposed ex-Marines as having allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects.
In a press conference in February, Baligod introduced the 18 individuals as former Marines who, as security personnel for Co, allegedly delivered P805 billion in cash to several people, among them Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Baligod also alleged that President Marcos was the mastermind behind the scheme.
Baligod subsequently admitted committing an “oversight” in listing De Lima among the recipients of suitcases full of cash. However, the lawyer said he still included De Lima in the list because she was allegedly present at meetings where she was handed a “paper bag” containing cash.
But “that is still a lie,” said De Lima. “Whether in a suitcase, a paper bag, or any container, I never received any money,” she said.
Last week, the NBI issued subpoenas against Baligod’s group as part of the agency’s investigation into the allegations.
Sought for comment, Baligod told reporters: “It’s their right to file those complaints; we will file our answer when directed by the National Prosecution Service.”
Duterte camp’s ‘handiwork’
De Lima and Villanueva both believe the allegations are “clearly the handiwork of the Duterte camp.”
“Look at the timing. We have impeachment proceedings against the Vice President (Sara Duterte) and the ICC’s confirmation of charges [hearings against former President Rodrigo Duterte]. They are desperate to create confusion and instability to distract the public,” said De Lima.
Villanueva, known for helping victims and families affected by the Duterte administration’s drug war, noted that the issue coincided with the recent confirmation of charges hearing by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the “crimes against humanity” case of former President Duterte at The Hague, the Netherlands.
“They want to destroy the reputation of the ICC. This is an attempt to intimidate the ICC and paint witnesses as ‘paid’ actors,” he said.
In a separate interview, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency would look into the possibility that the Duterte camp was behind the allegations.
