Adiong mulls libel suit, says Senate being ‘hostaged’ by cash delivery claims

LANAO del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday said he is seriously considering filing a libel case against the individuals accusing him of receiving cash-filled luggage, saying the controversy has gone beyond a personal attack and is now disrupting the work of the Senate.

Adiong, spokesperson of the House prosecution panel in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, is among the lawmakers accused by a group of 18 former Marine officers of allegedly receiving cash delivered on behalf of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

“Nung unang lumabas ‘yan, hindi ko pinansin ‘yan kasi sabi ko sobrang kalokohan naman ‘yan,” Alonto Adiong said in a radio interview over dzBB.

He said some lawyers had advised him months ago to file a libel complaint, but he initially brushed off the allegations as baseless.

“Actually, I was advised by some of my lawyers na sinabi nila mag-file na lang ako ng libel. Sabi ko sige na, wala naman katotohanan ‘yan. I brushed it off,” he said.

Alonto Adiong said recent developments, including efforts to elevate the allegations before the Senate, have prompted him to reconsider.

“But now that they have tried to move this to another level, I think I’m now contemplating filing a serious charge against them, libel,” he said.

The House trial spokesperson argued that the issue is no longer merely about individuals being accused but about the Senate being used to advance what he described as a diversionary narrative.

“Parang hindi [lang] nila inatake ‘yung individual na perceived to be their enemy, but they’re also hostaging the Senate,” Alonto Adiong said.

“Ginagamit nila ang Senado para i-hostage ang trabaho ng Senado at the same time para ilihis ang tunay na usapin dito which is impeachment,” Alonto Adiong said.

The allegations surfaced during a Senate inquiry pushed by a bloc led by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Alonto Adiong has repeatedly described the accusations as a public relations effort aimed at diverting attention from the impeachment trial of Duterte.

He expressed frustration that the controversy was consuming Senate time and delaying action on key Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) measures that could benefit Filipinos.

He specifically cited the proposed KALINGA Act, a House-approved measure designed to protect Filipinos from economic shocks, energy crises and supply disruptions.

“They’ve been holding the Senate session hostage na hindi nila in-approve o napag-usapan ang counterpart measures ng KALINGA Act,” he lamented.

The congressman said the implications go beyond politics because legislative work affecting ordinary Filipinos is being delayed.

“So this is no longer personal. This is about the country not moving forward,” Adiong said. “So it’s pure BS.”

Alonto Adiong also questioned why senators who had earlier refused to sign a partial report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under then-chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson are now pushing for the continuation of the inquiry.

“Why? Ayaw nila, nag-refuse. Kaya ngayon din napag-usapan ang partial committee report ng Blue Ribbon ng chairman si Sen. Ping Lacson dahil ayaw nilang pumirma eh. And now that they have already taken over the helm of the Senate, they’re now pushing for the continuation,” he said.

He further noted that the former Marine officers themselves had reportedly declined to execute sworn affidavits as part of the Senate’s official records.

“Eh mismong ang mga Marines, ayaw naman nila mag-sign ng affidavit nila as part of the official record ng Senate. Ayaw nila dahil ayaw nilang makasuan sila ng perjury. Ayaw nila mag-perjure. Anong klase ‘yan?” Alonto Adiong said.

He maintained that the public has largely rejected the allegations and sees them as an attempt to derail efforts to hold public officials accountable.

“So ang gusto nila is mag-build up ng PR stunt to derail, to confuse the public and derail itong usapin ng accountability against the vice president,” Alonto Adiong said.

“But the people knew that these people were nothing but a PR stunt,” Alonto Adiong added.