Ports and casino tycoon Enrique Razon
By Samantha Yu
MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., a leading figure in the ports and casino industry, has filed a cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga following allegations that linked Razon to corruption and bribery in Congress.
Razon’s complaint, lodged at the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, includes two counts of cyberlibel. The businessman is seeking at least ₱100 million in moral damages and ₱10 million in exemplary damages, citing serious damage to his reputation and emotional distress.
The legal action responds to a Facebook post by Barzaga on January 9, which accused Razon of orchestrating corruption within Congress and bribing members of the National Unity Party (NUP) during events held at Solaire Resort to garner support for former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. While the post has since been removed, it had already circulated widely in the media.
Razon dismissed the claims as “knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth,” adding that the accusations went beyond political opinion and amounted to criminal defamation.
