Manila, Philippines – Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga is facing a second cyber libel complaint over his accusations that National Unity Party lawmakers received bribes from port tycoon Enrique Razon, Jr. to help Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez retain his post as House Speaker under the 20th Congress in July.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday, Jan. 20, sued Barzaga before an Antipolo court. His filing comes a week after Razon filed a similar complaint against the Cavite congressman before a Makati court.
Puno has categorically denied having received any bribe from Razon, or any other person, and stated that he is seeking redress for the damage caused by what he described as a false and malicious public accusation.
In his complaint-affidavit, Puno argued that Barzaga’s Facebook post satisfies the elements of cyber-libel under the law, citing the imputation of bribery as a criminal offense and asserting that the statement was made publicly, maliciously, and through a computer system.
Barzaga’s post does not qualify for parliamentary immunity, the complaint said, as the speech clause does not cover statements made outside the halls of Congress and those not related to legislation.
“This is not about rhetoric. As we’ve said before, this is about protecting our reputations and enforcing accountability when outright falsehoods are thrown at us,” Puno said in a statement.
Barzaga has yet to issue a statement on Puno’s allegations.
