Business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. filed two counts of cyber libel against Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga over allegations that he bribed lawmakers to support then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Razon personally lodged the complaints before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, taking his oath before Assistant City Prosecutor Nicu dela Merced, and was accompanied by his lawyer, Atty. Laurence Arroyo.
The cases stem from Barzaga’s claim that Razon allegedly gave bribes to members of the National Unity Party (NUP) to secure backing for Romualdez’s speakership bid. Razon chairs International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), one of the country’s largest port operators.
Leaders of the NUP have strongly denied the allegations.
NUP chairman and Antipolo 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno said: “There was no contest. To claim that bribes were paid in a situation where there was no contest at all defies logic.”
Puno added that the party is preparing legal action against Barzaga, and other members named in the claims will also pursue their own cases.