CEBU-BASED broadcaster Edward Ligas has described the five cyberlibel complaints filed against him by a contractor as “harassment and intimidation,” asserting his social media posts about Mandaue City’s flood-control projects were fair public commentary.
During a preliminary investigation, Ligas filed his counter-affidavit, arguing that his questions regarding the P3.8 billion projects executed by ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corp. were a matter of public interest.
He denied the accusations and asked the prosecutor’s office to dismiss the case for lack of merit.
In a separate statement, the firm said their legal action was a legitimate response to false and damaging claims.
Ligas, in a counter affidavit filed on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, noted that the projects were paid using taxpayers money and were intended for general use; hence, anybody can raise questions and criticisms regarding its implementation and relevance.
Ligas said, ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corp., executed one of the most expensive flood control projects in Cebu, particularly in Mandaue City, through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ligas claimed that despite the substantial spending, flooding in Mandaue City persists and even worsened.
Ligas’ social media posts had questioned the effectiveness and quality of flood control projects in Mandaue City. The national government allocated P3.8 billion for these projects between 2022 and 2025.
Ligas’ posts referenced a flood control project in Barangay Maguikay along Butuanon river which collapsed in 2024 amid allegations that the work was substandard.
Ligas said complaints against the projects are supported by verifiable facts such as the alleged absence of cables when the project collapsed.
“Nakita nga wala gyud kabilya unya pag repair na kay gibutangan na og kabilya (People could see that there were no steel bars and they only put the steel bars during repair),” said Ligas.
“Ako pa lang ni Mr. Jerome Awit kay mokanta nalang siya og kinsa ug unsay arrangement nila sa congresswoman apil na ang mga taga-DPWH (If I were Mr. Jerome Awit, I’d sing on who and what kind of arrangement we had with the congresswoman and the DPWH),” said Ligas.
Awit represents ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corp.
In seeking the complaints’ dismissal, Ligas pointed to Awit’s alleged admission that he had gone on a shopping spree in a luxury designer bag boutique abroad with Mandaue lone district representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon and their families.
The shopping spree in a Gucci store in L.A., captured on video and posted on Reddit, reportedly happened after the repairs of a collapsed riprap in Mandaue City.
Ligas said based on records that he has gathered, the contractor ZLREJ Trading, took more than 20 flood-control projects.
“I believe some of these projects just started work recently after the President exposed (ghost projects),” said Ligas in Cebuano.
Ligas added that he will file complaints against several district representatives and DPWH officials in relation to the flood-control controversies before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Contractor’s side
In a statement sent to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, ZLREJ rejected Ligas’ claim and said their cyberlibel complaints were legitimate response to false and defamatory statements that caused significant damage to the company’s reputation and business.
“Edward Ligas had openly made false accusations against ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corporation through a series of posts, categorically making specific and damaging statements meant to inflame rather than inform,” the firm said.
ZLREJ said between Aug. 14 and 23, 2025, Ligas made five social media posts naming the firm and its officers, accusing them of theft of public funds, substandard work, and collusion with public officials.
“What he posted were not opinions or fair commentary. He was directly accusing ZLREJ of criminal acts and dishonesty, among other defamatory statements that demonstrate Mr. Ligas’ reckless disregard for the truth and the law,” it added.
The company maintained that DPWH inspection and materials testing reports have disproved Ligas’ claims, showing that the project in question met engineering standards and passed required steel and concrete specifications.
It added that the collapse referenced by Ligas occurred after heavy rains from two typhoons, and not “without rainfall” as Ligas had claimed.
Moreover, ZLREJ said Ligas made no attempt to verify his accusations, never sought clarification from the company or DPWH before posting, and repeated the same claims “despite the availability of official data disproving them.”
“When false accusations of criminal conduct are published without verification and with reckless disregard for the truth, the law provides remedies to protect individuals and businesses from reputational harm. Mr. Ligas calling this legitimate legal action as harassment is an attempt to evade accountability for accusations he cannot substantiate,” the firm said. / EHP