By Benjamin Cuaresma
manila — Former congressman Mike Defensor vowed Monday that the cyber libel complaints filed against him would not stop him from exposing alleged corruption in government.
Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice, Defensor insisted he would continue speaking out despite the legal battle now facing him and his co-respondents.
“I will not stop speaking about corruption,” Defensor declared.
Defensor appeared before prosecutors to submit his counter-affidavit in response to consolidated cyber libel complaints linked to a controversial press conference held last February involving 18 former military officers.
Also named respondents in the case are lawyer Levito Baligod, media personality Jay Sonza, and the retired soldiers who claimed they had delivered billions of pesos in cash to several government officials tied to former congressman Elizaldy Co.
The complaints were filed separately by Leila de Lima, human rights advocate Flavie Villanueva, Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Defensor questioned why those speaking out were charged first instead of the alleged personalities behind the supposed flood control scam.
“We got charged first instead of those behind the flood control scam,” he lamented.
He argued that he was merely voicing public frustration over alleged corruption issues hounding the government.
Meanwhile, Baligod defended the statements made by the former soldiers, saying their testimonies were based on personal knowledge and direct participation—not hearsay.
“They were there and personally delivered the money,” Baligod said.
The lawyer added that the respondents asked prosecutors to dismiss the complaints, citing Supreme Court rulings that denials are considered weak forms of defense.
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecutors gave the complainants until June 8 to file their replies, while the respondents were given until June 22 to submit rejoinders before the cases are submitted for resolution.
IA/XF
