Benny Abante sues 18 ex-Zaldy Co 'bagmen,' counsel over bribery claims

Manila Sixth District Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante on Tuesday filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against 18 confessed bagmen of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, their lawyer Levi Baligod, and Sonshine Radio over allegations that the lawmaker received payoffs from government contractors in suitcases, describing the claims as completely false.

Abante cited allegations posted on a DWSI Facebook page, which, he said, falsely presented the supposed 18 bagmen's affidavit as a sworn statement when it was, in fact, unsigned and unnotarized at the time it was made public.

"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," Abante's complaint read.

"To make matters worse, the Libelous Press Conference brazenly paraded the Libelous Salaysay—then still unsigned by the 18 Marine Respondents and unnotarized, thus not under oath—before the public eye," it added.

The 18 individuals were previously described as “former Marines,” but the Armed Forces of the Philippines has disowned that characterization.

DWSI (864 AM) Sonshine Radio is a radio station owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corp., the media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) that was founded by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

GMA News Online has reached out to Baligod and SMNI for comment and will update this story once they respond.

In his complaint, Abante also criticized the respondents for allegedly airing the accusations publicly rather than bringing them through proper legal channels.

"Instead of elevating these matters to the proper forum, respondent Atty. Baligod and the 18 Marine Respondents deliberately chose a public tirade over proper processes and channels," he said.

"Respondent Atty. Baligod, as a member of the Bar, should have known immeasurably better than to broadcast such unproven, incendiary allegations," it added.

Abante also said he has never met or dealt with any of the 18 "former Marines" and noted that the allegations failed to provide specific dates, locations, or circumstances surrounding the alleged delivery and receipt of the money.

"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," Abante said.

Abante further argued that the allegedly baseless accusations were repeated during a June 4 Senate proceeding purportedly conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee convened by senators allied with Senator 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," Abante said.

Baligod, for his part, has maintained that the former Marines were telling the truth, although he acknowledged that they erred in claiming that Senator Loren Legarda had also received a suitcase containing money.—MCG, GMA News