Arrest warrant issued for lawyer in cyber libel case

MANILA, Philippines — An arrest warrant has been issued against Levito Baligod, lawyer for the so-called “18 ex-bodyguards” of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, on two counts of cyber libel. Baligod, in his Facebook page, said the arrest warrant issued by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 on June 15 stemmed from a case filed by Department of Agriculture (DA) chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. However, Baligod said he only received the arrest warrant on Monday. “I just received the copy of my arrest warrant,” Baligod said in a Facebook post. READ: Tiu Laurel files cyber libel cases vs Baligod, Zaldy Co Baligod accused Laurel’s camp of sending the warrant to a wrong address, which is why, the lawyer said, he was not able to receive a subpoena and counter-affidavit. His bail is fixed at P20,000, and he has yet to respond to Inquirer’s queries if he already posted bail. The cyber libel complaint against Baligod is based on his statements regarding claims by former Ako Bicol Rep. Co’s purported 18 aides that they delivered suitcases of cash to residences of government officials, including Laurel. The DA chief, who filed the cyber libel complaint on March 19, called the allegations “purely fiction.”