Lawyer Levito “Levi” Baligod has been ordered arrested by a Makati court in connection with two counts of cyberlibel.

In a warrant dated 15 June, Acting Presiding Judge Antonio Ray Abello Ortiguera of the Regional Trial Court Branch 148 in Makati City directed law enforcement authorities to arrest Baligod and bring him before the court to answer charges filed under Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The court set bail at P20,000 for each of the two cyberlibel charges.

It also ordered arresting officers to comply with Supreme Court rules requiring the use of body-worn cameras and alternative recording devices during the implementation of arrest warrants.

Baligod confirmed receiving a copy of the warrant and said the charges stemmed from a complaint allegedly filed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

“I just received a copy of the warrant of arrest issued against me,” Baligod said in a social media post.

He claimed the case proceeded without his participation because the complainant allegedly provided an incorrect address during the preliminary investigation, preventing him from receiving a subpoena from prosecutors and filing a counter-affidavit.

“This case filed by Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel went through because my address was deliberately listed incorrectly with the prosecutor’s office. As a result, I never received a subpoena and was unable to submit a counter-affidavit,” he said.

The lawyer also took a swipe at his critics over the development, adding:

“They don’t want to fight fair. Haha.”