By el Amigo
MANILA — Lawyer Levito Baligod and 14 former security aides of former party-list representative Zaldy Co were arrested Friday morning in connection with a case for unjust vexation linked to alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime law.
San Juan City Police chief Col. Anthony Gantang said police officers served the arrest warrants at about 9:30 a.m. at the San Juan Hall of Justice, where Baligod was present for a court hearing.
In a report aired by Super Radyo dzBB, Gantang said the warrants covered unjust vexation in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The court set bail at P10,000 for each of the 15 respondents, he said.
The arrest orders were reportedly issued by the Regional Trial Court’s Branch 69 in Iba, Zambales.
Baligod and the former security aides have figured in a controversy involving allegations that suitcases of cash were delivered to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who represents Leyte, and other personalities.
The former security personnel had previously claimed involvement in the alleged deliveries. Marcos, Romualdez and the other individuals named in the accusations have denied the allegations.
The controversy took another turn in August when four of the 18 individuals who had executed affidavits withdrew their accusations. They reportedly explained that they wanted to return to a quiet life and feared for their safety because of alleged threats against them.
The arrests mark a new development in the dispute, which has drawn attention because of the identities of the personalities named in the contested allegations.
ia/xf
