Fresh raps hound Baligod, ‘maleta’ boys
The group had gone to the San Juan court for their scheduled arraignment in a separate cyberlibel case.
Police arrested lawyer Levito “Levi” Baligod and 14 of his clients — the group known as the “Brave 14” — outside the San Juan Hall of Justice on Friday, 16 October. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Iba, Zambales, issued the warrants for unjust vexation.
San Juan City police chief Col. Anthony Gantang confirmed the arrests, saying the Zambales court issued the warrants on 23 September. The court set bail at P10,000 for each accused.
The group had gone to the San Juan court for their scheduled arraignment in a separate cyberlibel case. The court served the warrants after it canceled that hearing. Police then took the accused to the San Juan City Police Station.
The accused are Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz, Walter Manalansan, and Reyneboy Julian, along with their lawyer, Baligod.
The group was arrested under a warrant issued by Judge Santiago Beltran, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 69 in Iba, Zambales.
The arrests drew criticism on social media, where supporters questioned the actions and called for transparency in the proceedings.
“Those who speak up against corruption are silenced, while wrongdoing goes unchecked. What is happening to our country?” one commenter wrote.
For being annoying
Unjust vexation is a light offense under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code. It generally covers conduct that unjustifiably annoys, irritates, or disturbs another person.
The Brave 14 are among the 18 former bodyguards and drivers of ex-Rep. Zaldy Co who claimed they delivered suitcases of cash to political figures on Co’s orders. The money was allegedly linked to anomalous flood control projects. Baligod is their counsel.
Some of the 14 are now prosecution witnesses in the Sandiganbayan bail hearing of former speaker Martin Romualdez in his plunder case. That hearing opened on 12 October and will run until 12 November.
Slew of arrests, cases
The Department of Justice (DoJ) approved the cyberlibel charges against Baligod and the 18 former bodyguards on 28 July. The charges were filed in the RTCs of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and San Juan. Baligod and the 18 posted P10,000 bail each before Caloocan RTC Branch 123.
Police arrested 10 of the men in August on four counts of perjury on a Las Piñas court warrant. They were released after posting bail.
Four of the former bodyguards were arrested at the same San Juan Hall of Justice in September on cyberlibel warrants. They were released that afternoon after posting bail.
Baligod was arrested last Friday on a libel complaint filed by Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante. He was freed on the recommendation of Manila RTC Branch 184 after posting P30,000 bail. The complaint followed the group’s claim that Abante had received money-filled suitcases during the 19th Congress.
Meanwhile, Makati RTC Branch 148 issued a warrant on 15 June for two counts of cyberlibel filed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Baligod said prosecutors were given the wrong address and that he never received a subpoena.
In separate livestreams after their arrest, group members questioned how prosecutors served the warrants.
The group said they had received no copy of the court resolution or any subpoena before the warrants were served. Authorities reportedly informed the accused of their rights at the time of arrest.