DA's Tiu Laurel files cyberlibel complaints vs. Baligod, Zaldy Co

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday filed separate cyberlibel complaints against lawyer Levito Baligod, the 18 former soldiers, and former lawmaker Zaldy Co for implicating him in a cash delivery scheme.

Tiu filed the complaints before the Makati Office of the Prosecutor.

“Nag-file ako ng kaso, no, ng cyberlibel sa isang grupo. ‘Yung isa kay Zaldy Co, ‘yung una kay Baligod ba ‘yun at saka ‘yung kanyang 18 na puppets ano,” Tiu Laurel said in an ambush interview.

(I filed a case against one group. One was against Zaldy Co and the other was against Baligod and his 18 puppets.)

“Dahil nga puro kasinungalingan ‘yung kanilang mga pinag sasabi sa kanilang affidavit at purely walang katotohanan. It’s purely fiction,” he added.

(Because what they said in their affidavit are all lies and purely without truth. It’s purely fiction.)

According to Tiu Laurel, the marines alleged that they were taking cash from his house in Forbes Park. 

However, he said he has not lived there since 2018.

“‘Yun lang palpak na eh. I don’t know any of those 18. Atsaka hindi naman daw ako ‘yung binibigyan ng maleta. Ako ‘yung nagbibigay ng pera,” he said.

(That alone already falls apart. I don’t know any of those 18. And they even said I wasn’t the one receiving the suitcase. I was the one giving the money.)

He also called on the former soldiers to tell the truth.

“Sabihin niyo na ‘yung totoo, diba? Para hindi kayo gamitin ng kung sino man ang nasa likod niyan. Katotohanan lang. ‘Yun lang ang hinihingi ko,” he said.

(Just tell the truth. So that you will not be used by whoever is behind that. Just the truth. That is all I am asking for.)

In separate a statement, the Department of Agriculture said Tiu Laurel accused Baligod of repeatedly claiming anomalies and unlawful acts within the DA, including the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds.

Co had also alleged that First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos interfered in agency matters and her brother was involved in smuggling issues.

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel said he and Co were not on good terms. He said he previously denied one of Co’s requests, which led Co to decrease the budget of his department’s rice program.

Tiu Laurel also said he did not understand why he was being implicated, but surmised that it may be because he is a cabinet secretary and the allegations may also affect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

GMA News Online has reached out to Baligod and Co's camp for comment, but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

Aside from Tiu Laurel, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of the ML party-list, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, and Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. have also filed complaints against the former soldiers and several others over the allegations.

Co emerged in Stockholm, Sweden at least on January 15 based on an apostille attached to a petition filed with the Supreme Court.

Marcos has said that the government continues its coordination with Portuguese authorities to bring Co back to the Philippines. —VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News