Ex-Energy chief Cusi indicted for cyber libel

Valenzuela City prosecutors have indicted former Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi for cyber libel over a statement posted on the Department of Energy's website on February 4, 2022.

“Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully recommended that Alfonso G. Cusi be indicted,” the 20-page resolution dated November 14, signed by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Rudy Ricamor, read.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian following Cusi’s issuance of a statement after a Senate resolution recommending the filing of lawsuits against the latter and other officials reached the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Office of the Prosecutor of Valenzuela City has indicted ex-Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi for a cyber libel case filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian over a statement posted on the Department of Energy website on Feb. 4,2022. @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/IHWeK1Y6z2

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) November 29, 2022

Cusi claimed that in the course of the committee hearings, Gatchalian had chosen to lend his ear to those adversarial business interests.

Gatchalian said Cusi’s official statement cast “malice” on his reputation and integrity as well as the investigation of the Senate committee on energy.

In defense, Cusi had said that his post was not defamatory as he had just criticized the conduct of the Senate investigation.

However, the prosecutors said this argument was “flimsy.”

“The fact remains that the defamatory statements were anchored on false allegations. The post no longer talks about the legality or illegality of the transfer of share but it already talks about Gatchalian and his tendency to corrupt, commits fraud, being dishonest and abusive,” the resolution read.

The prosecutors said this is “totally alien” to the subject matter or the recommendation of the Senate to file cases against Cusi and other government officials.

“Verily, Cusi acted maliciously, when he posted his defamatory statements in the DOE website,” it said.

The Senate resolution arose from the series of inquiries launched by Gatchalian, the upper chamber’s Energy panel chairman, who concluded in his privilege speech that Cusi and key officials of the DOE were “criminally and administratively liable for graft, gross neglect of duty, and grave misconduct and should immediately resign from their posts...for railroading the approval of the sale of participating interest of Chevron in Malampaya gas field.”

GMA News Online has reached out to Cusi for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News