Courtesy: Office of Rep. Alonto Adiong
HOUSE trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Thursday filed a cyber libel complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Marawi City against lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 alleged former Marine officers, while seeking a total of P25 million in damages over allegations that lawmakers received cash-filled suitcases from former congressman Zaldy Co.
In his complaint-affidavit, the chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, accused the respondents of orchestrating the public dissemination of what he described as false and malicious allegations.
Alonto Adiong is seeking at least P20 million in moral damages and P5 million in exemplary damages, saying the accusations caused him severe mental anguish, besmirched his reputation, and subjected him to widespread social humiliation.
Aside from Baligod, the complaint also named Bernard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontante, Johnny Buduan, Rodent Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villain Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Tabard, Walter Manalansan, Joel Cadioao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilia Larder Jr., Bernard Guimban, Crisanie Dado and Fidel Corpuz as respondents.
The complaint stemmed from a press conference held on February 24, 2026, where Baligod publicly announced the existence of a joint affidavit alleging a multibillion-peso kickback scheme involving flood control projects. Portions of the affidavit were later circulated online and on social media.
Alonto Adiong said the affidavit specifically named him among lawmakers allegedly given cash-filled suitcases.
“The accusations hurled against me by the Respondents are absolute fabrications, total falsehoods, and malicious inventions,” Alonto Adiong said in his affidavit.
“I have never met any of these eighteen (18) individuals, I have never received any suitcase of cash from anyone, and I have absolutely no involvement in the anomalous transactions they describe,” he added.
The lawmaker argued that all the elements of cyber libel were present, saying the allegations falsely imputed crimes against him, were publicly disseminated through online platforms and were made with actual malice.
“Respondents acted with actual malice because they published an unverified, logistically impossible narrative with reckless disregard for whether it was true or false,” the complaint stated.
Alonto Adiong further maintained that the allegations were deliberately amplified through online platforms after respondents announced their intention to provide copies of the affidavit to members of the media.
According to the complaint, Baligod told reporters during the February 26 filing of the affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman: “Bibigyan namin kayo ng kopya ng affidavit in soft copy lang kasi marami.”
The complaint argued that the widespread online circulation of the allegations was not accidental but the foreseeable result of respondents’ actions.
“Having intentionally exposed the allegations to members of the media with the expectation that they would be reported to the public, Respondents are liable not only for the original publication of the defamatory imputations but likewise for their foreseeable republication and dissemination through digital and online platforms,” the affidavit stated.
Alonto Adiong also rejected any claim that the allegations were protected by qualified privilege, arguing that respondents themselves publicized the accusations through press conferences, media interviews and online distribution.
The controversy, he said, caused severe damage to his reputation and standing as a public official.
“By reason of and as a direct consequence of these criminal acts, I suffered severe mental anguish, a besmirched reputation, and widespread social humiliation,” Alonto Adiong said.
