The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Office of the Prosecutor General, has approved the filing of multiple criminal charges against attorney Levito Baligod and 18 former security personnel linked to former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
The complaints stem from the execution and release of a joint sworn statement, along with related press conferences, media interviews, social media posts, and online publications.
Under the approved resolutions, the group of former bodyguards, dubbed the “18 maleta boys,” will face 10 separate information counts: six for cyber libel under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and four for perjury.
Baligod will be named as a co-accused alongside the 18 former bodyguards in several of these charges. Additionally, a separate cyber libel case under RA 10175 will be filed against Baligod individually.
The DOJ noted that its findings were established after evaluating evidence submitted by all parties during the preliminary investigation, concluding that prima facie evidence exists with reasonable certainty of conviction. Other complaints in the proceedings were dismissed for lacking sufficient evidence.
The informations will be formally lodged before the appropriate courts as the cases proceed to trial under due process.
Meanwhile, Baligod signaled plans to challenge the resolution.
”They intend to seek reconsideration of the DOJ’s ruling,” Baligod stated on Tuesday.