DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista files before the DOJ cyber libel raps vs. transport leader, journalist. Photo from Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday filed a cyberlibel complaint against a transport group leader and a broadcast journalist over allegations that he received corruption money. Bautista filed before the Department of Justice a complaint for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, specifically cyber libel, against Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela) chair Mario Valbuena and broadcast journalist Ira Panganiban. “They have so many accusations … that I accepted money and bribes, which are not true. I just want to protect my name, which I’ve taken care of for 45 years,” Bautista told reporters. “My name was recklessly dragged in allegations of corruption, without any effort to ascertain the truth of such claims. I was publicly accused of being the ultimate recipient of sums collected from alleged corruption in the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board). These claims are untrue,” Bautista said in his complaint. He explained that Panganiban was included due to allegations he posted on his Facebook account.