Ex-energy chief Cusi indicted for cyber libel

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi has been indicted for cyber libel over his statement posted on the DOE’s website against Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

In a 20-page resolution dated Nov. 14, Valenzuela City Senior Assistant Prosecutor Rudy Ricamor said Cusi should be held liable for violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Gatchalian over Cusi’s remark after the Senate issued a resolution recommending the filing of graft charges against the latter and other DOE officials.

Cusi said that in the course of the committee hearings, Gatchalian had chosen to lend his ear to adversarial business interests.

Gatchalian said Cusi’s statement cast “malice on his reputation and integrity”as well as the investigation of the Senate committee on energy.

In defense, Cusi said his statement was not defamatory as he only criticized the conduct of the Senate probe.

Ricamor, however, said Cusi’s argument was “flimsy.”

“Cusi acted maliciously when he posted his defamatory statement on the DOE website,” the city prosecutor said.

The Senate resolution stemmed from the series of inquiries conducted by Gatchalian’s committee, which found Cusi and other DOE officials “liable for graft, gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct for allegedly railroading the approval of the sale of participating interest of Chevron in the Malampaya gas field.”