The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said that the cyberlibel complaint filed against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque by former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has been dismissed by Quezon City prosecutors.
In a statement, the DOJ said that the prosecutors found that there was “insufficient evidence” to file a criminal case.
When asked for comment, Trillanes said they will file a motion for reconsideration.
“It’s too early for him to celebrate. Hindi pa nga sya makauwi. Anyway, we will still be filing a motion for reconsideration today,” Trillanes said in a message to reporters.
(It’s too early for him to celebrate. He still cannot return home. Anyway, we will still be filing a motion for reconsideration today.)
In his complaint, Trillanes said Roque posted a video on Facebook where he accused him of giving away Scarborough Shoal to China.
Meanwhile, Roque welcomed the ruling and thanked the prosecutors for applying the law on libel “correctly.”
He also stood by his remarks.
“Ang punto niya ay siniraan ko raw siya noong sinabi ko, unang una, na nawalan tayo ng teritoryo matapos siyang matalaga na special envoy to China,” Roque said in a statement.
(His point is that I allegedly defamed him when I said, first of all, that we lost territory after he was appointed as special envoy to China.)
“Eh hindi ba totoo naman po? Eh talaga naman po na iyong desisyon ng Tsina na kunin sa atin iyong [Scarborough Shoal] ay matapos na itinalaga siya ni President Aquino bilang special envoy to China,” he added.
(But isn’t it true? China’s decision to take [Scarborough Shoal] from us did indeed happen after President Aquino appointed him as special envoy to China.)
Roque has applied for asylum in the Netherlands after the House Quad Committee cited him in contempt and ordered his detention after he refused to submit documents that would justify his increased wealth amid the investigation into POGOs.
