Manila, Philippines – Tumakbo na rin sa Manila Prosecutor Office si Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante upang hainan ng kasong libel ang 18 dating miembro ng Philippine Marines.
Ito ay kaugnay sa alegasyon ng pagtanggap o tumanggap ng “maleta” na may kaugnay sa iskandalo ng flood control projects.
Kasama sa inireklamo si Atty. Levito Baligod at ang 18 dating miembro ng marines at ang media outlet DWSI 864 at sa reklamong ito ay tahasang pinabulaanan ng mambabatas ang mga bintang laban sa kaniya.
“For the record, I vehemently deny the incorrect, baseless, and/or misleading allegations made by the complainants in the Libelous Salaysay distributed and made known to the media and public during the Libelous Press Conference, and thereafter published on respondent DWSI’s Facebook page through the Libelous Post,” sinabi ni Abante.
Binigyang diin ng kongresista na mali ang alegasyong tumanggap siya ng pondo ng bayan na inihatid sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng maleta.
“Simply put, the unsigned and unnotarized Libelous Salaysay alleges that I, a public servant, was one of the recipients of ‘kickbacks. Such allegation is completely false and untrue. I vehemently deny and refute the incorrect, baseless, and misleading libelous statements in the Libelous Salaysay distributed and broadcast to the media during the Libelous Press Conference, and thereafter published on respondent DWSI’s Facebook page.”
Ani Abante sinadya umano ng mga respondents na isapubliko ang akusasyon bago pa man ito masuri ng mga otridad na nagresulta aniya sa “trial by publicity.”
“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. 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.”
Kinuwestyon pa ni Abante, chairman ng House human rights panel ang kerdibilidad ng alegasyon sa pagsasabing ang mga respondents ay wala umanong personal na kaalaman sa mga naganap na cash deliveries.
“For the record, I have never dealt with or ever seen any of the 18 Marine Respondents. I have no dealings with regard to deliveries of money from former representative Zaldy Co,” giit ni Abante.
Naniniwala pa ang mambabatas na ang alegasyon ay hindi nakasalig o walang suporta ng detalye at ebidensya bukod pa sa ito ay marami umanong hindi magkakatugmang pahayag.
“Significantly, the allegations lack any specific date or circumstance of the claimed delivery and receipt, 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.” (Meliza Maluntag)
