Roque files counter-affidavit, countersues Trillanes

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque filed a counter-affidavit in response to cyberlibel and libel complaints filed by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Roque requested the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on June 18 to dismiss Trillanes' libel charges for lack of probable cause, and also submitted a counter-charge against Trillanes under RA 3019 and RA 6713.

Roque accused Trillanes of betraying public trust during his backchannel negotiations with Chinese officials in 2012 and criticized Trillanes' reaction to his criticisms as overly sensitive.

Trillanes filed charges against Roque and vlogger Byron Cristobal on May 14, alleging that Roque's Facebook post accused him of giving Scarborough Shoal to China, while Cristobal expressed agreement with the statements.

Roque stated in his counter affidavit that Trillans' actions during his mission to China were grossly disadvantageous to the government and violated RA 6713 standards for public officials.

In response to Trillanes’ complaints, Roque appealed to the prosecutor’s office to dismiss the charges and filed additional graft and misconduct charges against Trillanes.