Senator Win Gatchalian has dropped the cyber liber cases against former Energy chief Alfonso Cusi after the latter's issuance of public apology over his alleged defamatory remarks on the lawmaker.

"We will withdraw the libel case. That is the agreement and both criminal and civil cyberlibel case," Gatchalian told reporters on Tuesday.

Gatchalian earlier said he accepted Cusi's apology in the "spirit of magnanimity" saying it underscores the need for all government officials "to exercise care in their words, recognizing the impact they have on the public."

"First of all, I accept his apology. And this will be a lesson to all public servants, including myself. Alam mo marami sa atin pinoprotektahan 'yung pangalan natin, inaalagaan 'yung pangalan natin at hindi tama at irresponsible na mag-aakusa ka ng isang public servant nang wala kang basehan," he noted.

The lawmaker earlier filed a civil lawsuit against former Cusi last February, seeking up to P16 million in damages with P10 million in moral damages, P5 million in exemplary damages, and P1 million in attorney's fees.

In his apology, Cusi particularly retracted his previous statement: "It is unfortunate that, in the course of the Committee hearings, Senator Gatchalian had chosen to lend his ear to those adversarial business interests. It was obvious in these hearings that Senator Gatchalian sought to undermine the DOE's ability to evaluate the proposal covering the said sale of shares comprehensively."

The former energy chief uttered this statement during the investigation of the Malampaya deal, particularly the transfer of the 45-percent participating interest of Chevron Philippines in Chevron Malampaya to UC Malampaya, formerly owned by businessman Dennis Uy, by the Senate committee on energy led by Gatchalian.

Cusi said he had no intention of accusing Gatchalian "of any crime, vice or defect, or of dishonoring his reputation."

"I regret any negative insinuations that may arise from this particular post and apologize to Senator Gatchalian for whatever pain and humiliation that the published statement may have caused him," said Cusi.