Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante has filed libel and cyberlibel complaints before the Manila Office of the Prosecutor on Tuesday morning against 18 former security personnel, their legal counsel, and a radio station over “incorrect, baseless and misleading” allegations of cash-filled suitcase deliveries.
The complaints name Atty. Levito Baligod alongside 18 former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, identified as Belnard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontate, Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilio Larroder Jr., Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz, and Walter Manalansan.
Also included in the lawsuit is DWSI 864—operated by Swara Sug Media Corporation, the parent company of SMNI—for allegedly broadcasting and spreading the claims across Facebook and other digital platforms.
The legal dispute traces back to an unsigned and unnotarized joint affidavit (Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay) dated February 23, 2026. The document alleged that Abante was among several legislators who received kickbacks linked to controversial flood control projects.
According to Abante, these claims were first publicized during a February 24 press conference hosted by Baligod and were subsequently posted online.
“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,” Abante stated in his affidavit.
“The Respondents falsely insinuate that I (among others) received luggage containing cash from public funds. These allegations are entirely false, maliciously fabricated, and without any basis in fact or law,” he added.
Abante highlighted stark discrepancies between the unsigned document shown at the press conference and the actual notarized affidavit later sent to the Office of the Ombudsman. He cited Baligod’s own admission that including Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in the initial draft was likely an “oversight.”
“This discrepancy all the more exposes their malicious intent and recognition of the original’s falsity, forcing revision before swearing to its contents under oath,” Abante said. “This blatant vacillation not only shreds their credibility but cements the tale as malicious fiction.”
The Manila lawmaker further argued that the allegations were devoid of specific timelines or contexts regarding the alleged cash drop-offs, adding that the photos presented merely depicted “cash, luggage, and strangers,” which failed to prove any wrongdoing.
Abante emphasized that the narrative was repeated during a June 4 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, creating a recurring pattern of defamation.
“This constitutes a fresh and separate publication of the same libelous imputations, compounding the damage already inflicted on my reputation and demonstrating a continuing malicious campaign rather than a single isolated act,” he said.