Why did Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi file libel charges against officials and reporters of seven Philippine media outfits that reported about the graft complaint against him?

His counsel, lawyer Ruy Rondain, alleged it was because the reporters only based on a press conference and on a press release, which was only a "piece of paper," in their report.

In an interview with ANC on Monday, Rondain said they lodged libel and cyberlibel complaints against Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN, BusinessWorld, Rappler, PhilStar, GMA and Business Mirror before the Taguig City Prosecutor's Office "based on news reports, which were based on a press conference, not based on a complaint."

"When I say 'complaint,' that's something filed and docketed," he said.

On October 19, several media outfits, particularly the respondents in Cusi's libel complaints, reported about a group of concerned citizens that supposedly filed a graft complaint before OMB against Cusi, businessman Dennis Uy, several executives of Chevron Philippines, Inc. and other individuals.

This stemmed from their alleged involvement in the controversy surrounding the Malampaya project.

Reporters based their report on a 44-page graft complaint prepared by Balgamel de Belen Domingo, Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas.

But Cusi's camp claimed that reporters only based their reports on a press release because there was actually no complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).

"They say there was a complaint but no one has seen... I haven't seen the complaint," Rondain said.

"If they have the complaint that's properly dated, that's properly signed and properly docketed, then that's a very good defense," he added.

A day after the release of the report, on October 20, the energy chief had the chance in an interview with ANC to clarify that his camp still had not received a copy of the complaint.

But instead, Cusi seemingly just acknowledged the complaint against him by saying, "Magkakaso sila ng ganyan tapos (They would charge me but) they are not in the country."

Cusi even said he knew "who instigated this case" and warned that, "in due time, that will come out because this is pure harassment, this is political."

But why did Cusi only file charges against the media? According to Rondain, it was because the graft complainants "haven't said anything in public," except for Rodis, who is already facing charges already filed by Cusi's camp.

Cusi did not also seek legal actions against some government officials, particularly against Senate Committee on Energy Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, despite some supposedly libelous statements during hearings because they are entitled with a privilege speech.

The energy chief also demanded P200 million each from the seven media outfits because "that's the value feel that will compensate for the hurt that suffered," Rondain said.

Rondain said their camp might consider dropping the charges against the media if they could finally see the copy of the complaint cited in the reports and if they could deem that reporters did not add any comment in their stories.

Rondain also said his clients, both Cusi and Uy, are "open to hearing a genuine apology" from the media.