By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday filed fresh criminal complaints against lawyer Levito Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, and four others over what he described as defamatory allegations made during a June 16 press conference in Mandaluyong City.
Tulfo filed the complaint-affidavit before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, charging Baligod, Defensor, Jeron Valderama, Bernard Gumban, Virgilio Garcia, and Quezon City Councilor Ranulfo “Rannie” Ludovica with grave oral defamation under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The complaint stemmed from statements made during what was initially billed as a “Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee” hearing on the flood control controversy at the Double Gem EDSA Garden Events Place in Mandaluyong City, but was later declared by Defensor as a “press conference,” according to Tulfo’s affidavit.
Tulfo said the respondents publicly linked him to supposed deliveries of “maletas” or suitcases of cash from government-funded projects, allegations he repeatedly denied.
“I didn’t get any. Even a single centavo from government projects. Wala (None),” Tulfo told reporters after filing the complaints.
In his complaint-affidavit, Tulfo said the accusations were made in a public venue and amplified through livestreaming and social media, causing dishonor, discredit, and contempt not only against him as a public servant but also as a family man.
The affidavit said the June 16 event was livestreamed by a media outlet and garnered hundreds of thousands of views, which Tulfo cited to argue that the allegedly defamatory statements were further circulated online.
Tulfo also alleged that Defensor and Baligod spearheaded the event despite the absence of senators who had been expected to lead the proceedings.
He said some of the respondents had already brought their claims before the Office of the Ombudsman through a notarized complaint-affidavit in February, making the continued public airing of the accusations unnecessary.
Tulfo maintained he had no infrastructure, flood control, or farm-to-market road project from which he could have supposedly benefited.
“Wala akong infra, wala akong flood control or farm-to-market. Wala (I have no infrastructure project, no flood control or farm-to-market project. None),” he said.
The senator said he initially had no plan to file additional complaints but was advised by his lawyer to take legal action to answer what he called falsehoods.
“Korte na lang bahala sa kanila (Let the court deal with them),” Tulfo said.
Tulfo asked prosecutors to find probable cause and file the corresponding information against the respondents for grave oral defamation under the cybercrime law. (PNA)
