FORMER Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi faces a criminal complaint before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor's Office following the filing of cyberlibel charges by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Gatchalian's complaint was based on Cusi's official statement posted on the DoE website on Feb. 4, 2022 that allegedly casts malice on the reputation and integrity of the senator and the Senate Committee on Energy's investigation during the 18th Congress on the issues surrounding the transfer of the 45 percent participating interest of Chevron Philippines in the Malampaya gas project.
According to Gatchalian, Cusi's statement was defamatory because it characterizes the committee hearings as based solely on speculation and hearsay propagated by certain business interests.
"Cusi's statement is clearly defamatory and obviously intended to cause dishonor, discredit, or contempt not merely of my position as a Senator of the Republic but more importantly of my integrity as a public servant," Gatchalian said, adding that the integrity of the whole Senate as an institution was also put into question.
"A simple reading of Cusi's statement shows that he characterizes the conduct of the Senate investigation as being tainted with bad faith for being highly irregular and politicized," he added.
Cusi made his statement after Senate Resolution (SR) 137, proposed by Gatchalian and adopted by the Senate, was transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.
