Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769001994542THUMB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine Army Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica files cyberlibel complaints against Ramil Madriaga and his legal counsel, Raymund Palad, on January 21, 2026. Handout photos" width="960"/>Philippine Army Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica files cyberlibel complaints against Ramil Madriaga and his legal counsel, Raymund Palad, on January 21, 2026. Handout photos</div>MANILA – Philippine Army Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica on Wednesday filed cyberlibel complaints against Ramil Madriaga and his legal counsel, Raymund Palad, over “unverified claims,” which he said already caused “serious harm” to him and his family.In a statement, Col. Lachica–formerly the head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG)–said he filed the complaint with the Department of Justice–Davao City.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/16/affidavit-from-sara-duterte-s-alleged-bagman-referred-to-ombudsman-1639">Affidavit from Sara Duterte’s alleged ‘bagman’ referred to Ombudsman</a></div>The cyberlibel complaint was supposedly in connection with the “online publication and dissemination of alleged defamatory statements.”“I took this step deliberately and with restraint. As a soldier and a public servant, I firmly believe that serious accusations must be addressed through lawful institutions, not through trial by publicity, online speculation, or the repeated circulation of unverified claims,” the colonel said in a statement.“The allegations circulated against me online are false, malicious, and entirely without factual basis. I categorically deny any involvement in the acts imputed to me,” Col. Lachica added.While he did not provide any specific details on the matter, it can be remembered that Madriaga–through a notarized affidavit referred to the Ombudsman in December 2025–alleged Vice President Sara Duterte’s supposed links to Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs).Duterte <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/22/sara-duterte-says-madriaga-graft-claims-amount-to-nothing-more-than-noise-0916">earlier denied </a>having any personal relationship with Madriaga and said his accusations amounted to “nothing more than noise.”Aside from this accusation on funding, the affidavit said Madriaga worked with Colonel Dennis Nolasco and Colonel Lachica, both earlier investigated over alleged confidential fund misuse, to transport “large amounts of money to several persons as instructed by VP Sara.”But the colonel insisted in his statement that he “never met, worked with, or coordinated with Mr. Madriaga.”Madriaga, he said, was never part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or in any unit under him.“What compelled me to act is not only the falsity of these claims, but the deliberate and sustained effort to publicly disseminate them through digital platforms, despite clear indications that the accusations were driven by personal grievance and legal self-interest, rather than verified facts or any final finding by competent authorities,” said Col. Lachica.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/no-explanation-given-over-reassignment-of-sara-duterte-s-security-chief-ovp-1939">No explanation given over reassignment of Sara Duterte’s security chief: OVP</a></div>What happened has already “caused serious harm” to his professional reputation and his family, who are not part of the controversy, he said.“[They] were exposed to public suspicion, anxiety, and unnecessary emotional distress as a direct result of the widespread online publication of these allegations. This underscores why the law draws clear boundaries between protected speech and punishable defamation,” he said.This complaint, Col. Lachica said, was not about silencing criticism but rather a way to defend the truth and due process.He also added that he was filing this complaint as he would rather litigate this in the justice system than in the court of public opinion.“The use of social media and online platforms to present unverified accusations as fact undermines individual rights and erodes public trust in institutions,” he said.“I will not litigate this case in public, nor will I engage in exchanges through media commentary or social networks,” he said.In a message to ABS-CBN News, Palad said he could not comment on the matter as of the moment since he has yet to receive the copy of the complaint.

Philippine Army Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica on Wednesday filed cyberlibel complaints against Ramil Madriaga and his legal counsel, Raymund Palad, over “unverified claims,” which he said already caused “serious harm” to him and his family.

Philippine Army Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica on Wednesday filed cyberlibel complaints against Ramil Madriaga and his legal counsel, Raymund Palad, over “unverified claims,” which he said already caused “serious harm” to him and his family.

AFP Col. Lachica files cyberlibel complaints vs Madriaga and his legal counsel, over ‘unverified claims’

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AFP Col. Lachica files cyberlibel complaints vs Madriaga and his legal counsel, over ‘unverified claims’

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 21, 2026 09:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Raymund Dante Lachica

Ramil Madriaga

Raymund Palad

Sara Duterte

cyberlibel

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