DOTr chief Bautista files cyber libel complaint vs. MANIBELA’s Valbuena, journo

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday filed a cyber libel complaint against transport group MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena and journalist Ira Panganiban.

In an interview following the filing at the Justice Department, Bautista said he filed the complaint over their allegations that he received corruption money.

"Marami silang accusations na ako raw ay tumanggap ng pera, ng suhol, hindi naman totoo. Kaya gusto ko lang protektahan ang aking pangalan na inalagaan ko for almost 45 years," Bautista said.

(They have many accusations that I accepted money and bribes, which is not true. I just want to protect my name, which has been unblemished for 45 years.)

Valbuena previously said that former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board aide Jeff Tumbado alleged that suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III delivered corruption money to Bautista.

The following day, however, Tumbado recanted his allegations and apologized, saying that the things he said were “borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, [and] poor decision making.”

Valbuena, meanwhile, described Bautista's complaint as "purely harassment."

“Purely Harassment and abuse of power. Hindi po ako mapapatahimik ng kahit anong kaso para ilabas ang katotohanan,” he told reporters.

(It's pure harassment and abuse of power. I will not be silenced by any case to bring out the truth.)

In a separate statement, MANIBELA said the complaint will also not stop them from helping the Transportation sector and passengers.

“Ang tanging pino-protektahan nila ay ang sarili nilang interes at ang pino-protektahan natin ay interes ng taong bayan,” it said.

(What they are protecting is their self-interest and what we are protecting is the interest of the public.)

For his part, Panganiban said he had only been reporting the news.

“I have no idea what this is all about. I have simply been reporting the News just like everyone else has,” he said in a message to reporters.

Meanwhile, when asked if the complaint might create a chilling effect, Bautista said the public should wait for the result of the process.

“Hintayin na lang natin 'yong magiging result nung proseso. May proseso naman 'yan eh, hintayin na lang natin,” he said.

(Let’s just wait for the result of the process. Let's follow the process.)

Bautista said they have also submitted the initial results of the internal investigation into Tumbado’s allegations against Guadiz to the Office of the President. —VAL, GMA Integrated News