Former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has been indicted for a cyber libel case following a statement posted on the Department of Energy's website earlier this year.
In a 20-page resolution dated November 14 but was only released to the media on Tuesday, Valenzuela City prosecutors led by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Rudy Ricamo indicted Cusi for a cyber libel case filed by Senator 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.
For the prosecutors, Cusi's statements were "anchored on false allegations."
“The post no longer talks about the legality or illegality of the transfer of share but it already talks about Gatchalian and his tendency to corrupt, commits fraud, being dishonest and abusive,” the resolution read.
Cusi has yet to release a statement on the matter, as of writing.
