Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday filed cybercrime complaints against Manibela president and former ABS-CBN reporter before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of corruption in the agency.
Bautista filed charges against Mar Valbuena and Ira Panganiban for violations against Article 355 in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Republic Act 10175 or Cyber Crime Prevention Act.
“I cannot allow myself to be the subject of another’s desperate attempt to attain fame, especially when malicious, baseless, and untruthful statements are hurled against me, if only to put a blemish on my untarnished track record and reputation of excellence and integrity,” Bautista said in the charge sheet.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty received the complaint.
Bautista maintained that he was never a part of corruption and bribery schemes at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“For the record, I have never received any bribe of some sort, much less used any amount of money to maintain my position as Secretary of the DOTr,” he said.
Jeff Gallos Tumbado, the former information officer of the LTFRB earlier retracted his allegations of corruption with the agency and Bautista.
Tumbado said his allegations against LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and Bautista were made “out of impulse, irrational thinking, and misjudgment and poor decision-making, possibly influenced by certain individuals.”
“I have no malicious intention to besmirch the integrity and reputation of any one,” he added.
Tumbado’s allegations eventually led President Marcos to suspend Guadiz for reasons of alleged corruption.
