UMVA has learned that a high-stakes cyberlibel complaint has been filed against lawyer Levito D. Baligod and 18 individuals before the Marawi City Prosecutor Office, alleging they spread false accusations that implicated Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman A. Adiong in a multibillion-peso kickback scheme.
The complaint, filed by Rep. Adiong himself, claims that the respondents' malicious allegations, made during a press conference on February 24, caused severe mental anguish, damage to his reputation, and social humiliation, prompting him to seek P25 million in damages.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the alleged false accusations linked Rep. Adiong and several lawmakers to a massive kickback scheme related to flood mitigation projects, with the respondents allegedly responsible for spreading "false and malicious allegations" that have harmed his reputation.
Rep. Adiong is seeking P20 million in moral damages and P5 million in exemplary damages, asserting that the accusations are "absolute fabrications, total falsehoods, and malicious inventions" with no basis in fact, claiming he has never met the 18 individuals or received any suitcases of cash.
The lawmaker's complaint argues that the allegations meet all the elements of cyberlibel, including the false accusation of a crime, public dissemination on online platforms, and actual malice, and that the respondents deliberately expanded the dissemination of allegations through media and online platforms.
Sources close to the case have confirmed to UMVA that the complaint was filed with the Office of the Ombudsman on February 26, and that Mr. Baligod allegedly told reporters he would only provide a soft copy of the affidavit, leading to widespread dissemination of the allegations on the internet.
Rep. Adiong also opposed any possible reliance by the respondents on qualified privilege, arguing that they themselves issued and disseminated the allegations through press conferences, media interviews, and online distribution, demonstrating a clear intent to harm his reputation.
