Makati prosecutor summons Barzaga

MANILA, Philippines —  The Makati prosecutor’s office has issued a subpoena against suspended Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga in connection with the two counts of cyber libel filed against him by business tycoon Enrique Razon.

Prosecutor Dindo Venturanza has given Barzaga 10 days to file his counter-affidavit from receipt of the subpoena.

Barzaga is facing a complaint for cyber libel over his Jan. 9 Facebook post, which has been deleted, accusing Razon of masterminding “the corruption in Congress.”

Razon is the chairman of port giant International Container Terminal Services Inc. and hotel and casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Barzaga also claimed that Razon bribed members of the National Unity Party to shore up support for former speaker Martin Romualdez.

Venturanza ordered Barzaga to appear before the Makati prosecutor’s office on Feb. 12 and 19.

Barzaga said in a Facebook post that he stands ready to face Razon in court, “the sooner, the better.”