Baligod faces arrest for cyberlibel filed by DA chief

MANILA, Philippines —   A Makati court has ordered the arrest of lawyer Levito Baligod over a cyberlibel complaint filed by Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in connection with Baligod’s alleged remarks linking the DA chief to the supposed delivery of kickback money stuffed in suitcases.

Acting Presiding Judge Antonio Ray Ortiguera of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 issued the warrant of arrest on June 15, charging Baligod with two counts of cyberlibel under Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The court set bail at P20,000 for each count.

Baligod, lawyer for the 18 alleged bodyguards of former congressman and fugitive Zaldy Co, posted a copy of the arrest warrant on Facebook on Monday.

The cyberlibel charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Tiu Laurel in late March, denying Baligod’s allegations that the 18 ‘bagmen’ claimed money from his former residence in Forbes Park.

The agriculture chief also maintained he has not lived in the subdivision since 2018.

Reacting to the arrest warrant, Baligod claimed he was denied due process during the preliminary investigation, alleging that Tiu Laurel deliberately provided an incorrect address to the prosecutor’s office, preventing him from receiving a subpoena and submitting his counter-affidavit.

“This case filed by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel succeeded because my address intentionally provided to the prosecutor’s office was wrong. As a result, I did not receive the subpoena and was unable to submit my counter-affidavit,” Baligod said in a Facebook post. “He doesn’t want to fight fair.”

The court directed law enforcement officers to arrest Baligod at his residence in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

It also ordered arresting officers to use at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording device, or a minimum of two recording devices, to document relevant incidents during the implementation of the warrant.