Bautista files cybercrime complaint vs. Manibela head

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday filed cybercrime complaints against the head of Manibela transport group and a former ABS-CBN reporter before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over their allegations of corruption in the agency.

Bautista filed charges against Mar Valbuena and Ira Panganiban for alleged violations of Article 355 in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act.

“I cannot allow myself to be the subject of another’s desperate attempt to attain fame, especially when malicious, baseless and untruthful statements are hurled against me, if only to put a blemish on my untarnished track record and reputation of excellence and integrity,” Bautista said in the charge sheet.

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty received the complaint.

Bautista said he was never a part of corruption and bribery schemes in the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“For the record, I have never received any bribe of some sort, much less used any amount of money to maintain my position as Secretary of the DOTr,” he said.