Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers has strongly opposed the libel and certiorari cases filed against him by social media vloggers allegedly linked to illegal drugs.
Barbers criticized the legal actions as an attempt to derail the efforts of the Tri-Committee (Tri-Com) investigating fake news and social media abuse. He asserted that the cases were baseless, emphasizing that he never named anyone as part of the so-called “narco-vloggers” in his speeches and interviews.
The congressman questioned why the vloggers felt affected and decided to sue if they were not guilty. While affirming his commitment to constitutional provisions on free speech, he stressed that it should not be misused to destroy reputations and spread false accusations.
Barbers further revealed that many of the complainants, who filed petitions before the Supreme Court and the libel case before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, had been summoned to the Tri-Com hearings but either failed or refused to appear.
He accused the vloggers of using the courts as a shield to continue spreading misinformation and defamatory content.
Among the complainants are Lorraine Badoy and Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who claim that Barbers’ request for an NBI investigation into their alleged ties to illegal drugs and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) caused fear within their families.
The case has sparked controversy, highlighting the tension between government officials and social media influencers amid efforts to regulate online content.
