MANIBELA transport leader Mar Valbuena will face two counts of cyber libel over allegations linking Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to alleged corrupt practices.
This comes after it established probable cause with reasonable certainty of conviction during the preliminary investigation against Valbuena, chairperson of the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela).
In a 17-page resolution, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is set to file charges against Valbuena for two counts of violation of Article 355, in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The case for grave threats against him was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Valbuena and former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) information officer Jeff Gallos Tumbado had implicated Bautista in an alleged bribery scheme.
Valbuena cited Tumbado’s claim that former LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III delivered money to Bautista as part of the “ruta for sale” scheme.
However, Tumbado has since recanted his corruption allegations against the agency, attributing these to “impulse, irrational thinking, and misjudgment.”
Bautista has vehemently denied any involvement in this scheme.
