Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. has filed cyber libel and libel complaints against the 18 ex-soldiers and their counsel, lawyer Levi Baligod over allegations that he received cash-filled luggages ("maleta") as payoffs under the flood control projects corruption scandal.

Abante, who lodged the charges before the Manila Prosecutors Office of the Department of Justice (DOJ), also included media outlet DWSI 864 in the list of respondents.

In his complaint-affidavit, Abante categorically denied the accusations aired during a Feb. 24 press conference and later disseminated through social media.

“For the record, I vehemently deny the incorrect, baseless, and/or misleading allegations made by the complainants in the libelous salaysay (statement) 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 said.

The House quad-committee (quad-comm) v2.0 overall chairman said the allegations falsely portrayed him as a recipient of public funds allegedly distributed through luggage deliveries by the 18 supposed ex-Marines.

“Simply put, the unsigned and unnotarized libelous salaysay alleges that I, a public servant, was one of the recipients of ‘kickbacks’,” he stated.

“Such allegation is completely false and untrue. I vehemently deny and refute the incorrect, baseless, and misleading libelous statements in the libelous salaysay distributed and broadcast to the media during the libelous press conference, and thereafter published on respondent DWSI’s Facebook page,” he added.

Abante argued that the respondents deliberately chose to publicize their accusations before proper authorities could evaluate them, and this resulted in what he described as a trial by publicity.

“To make matters worse, the libelous press conference brazenly paraded the libelous salaysay—then still unsigned by the 18 Marine respondents and unnotarized, thus not under oath—before the public eye," the complaint read.

"Instead of elevating these matters to the proper forum, respondent Atty. Baligod and the 18 Marine respondents deliberately chose a public tirade over proper processes and channels,” it added.

The pastor-solon also questioned the credibility of the allegations, noting that he had never met the respondents and had no involvement whatsoever in any alleged cash deliveries.

“For the record, I have never dealt with or ever seen any of the 18 Marine respondents. I have no dealings with regard to deliveries of money from former representative Zaldy Co,” Abante stated.

He further described the allegations as unsupported by specific details and evidence.

“Significantly, the allegations lack any specific date or circumstance of the claimed delivery and receipt, while photographs show only cash, luggage, and strangers, establishing nothing. Coupled with their groundless tale, this amounts to nothing more than smoke and mirrors slander,” he said.

Abante also pointed to what he described as inconsistencies between the unsigned document circulated during the press conference and the notarized affidavit later submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as statements subsequently made by Baligod about former senator and now party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.

According to the complaint, these developments demonstrate “a reckless disregard for truth” and reveal that the accusations were “patently unreliable and contrived".

The veteran lawmaker said the allegations have hurt his reputation. “This unduly and unfairly damages my reputation and casts doubt on my integrity as a duly elected official."

Abante is asking prosecutors to find probable cause and file charges for cyber libel and libel against the respondents, arguing that the allegations were maliciously published through both traditional and online platforms.

In his complaint, ranking congressman maintained that the evidence gathered establishes a prima facie basis to hold the respondents liable for cyber libel and libel, and urged prosecutors to pursue the appropriate criminal charges arising from the publication and dissemination of the allegations against him.