TARLAKENYO (Oct. 18, 2025) — Tarlac 3rd Congressional District Representative Noel “Bong” Rivera filed five cyberlibel cases against vlogger Pyra Lucas last Thursday in Quezon City.
In an exclusive interview by local journalist Jess Tadeo posted on Facebook, Rivera’s legal counsel gave some details on the cases filed.
“Nag-file po ng cyberlibel ang ating congressman dahil sa mga mapanira na post ni Pyra Lucas laban kay congressman na ipinost niya sa kanyang social media page niya sa Facebook,” Robespierre Cu said.
The legal counsel stated that the vlogger must be held accountable for her derogatory posts.
“… pagkatapos magkaroon ng hearing ay mapapanagot si Pyra Lucas sa mga ginawa niyang mapanirang posts laban kay Bong Rivera. Sapagkat sa mga posts na inakusahan nya ang ating butihing congressman na isang diumano ay magnanakaw ay walang katotohanan. AT kaya iyan ay ating finile-an ng cyberlibel dahil hindi totoo ang mga mapnirang posts na iyon,” Cu said in the same video.
On her Facebook post, the combative Lucas said she looks forward to facing the congressman.
“Corruption kills humanity, and I am here to fight,” Lucas said while posting a photo of Rivera captioned ‘Finally!! I really want to see you in court (laughing emoji).’ The self-proclaimed anti-corruption crusader was expelled from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) as its coordinator for Central Luzon.
According to Cu, Lucas has several legal means to file cases against Rivera if she believes that she has the evidence to.
“Kung si Pyra Lucas ay naniniwalang mayroon siyang mga ebidensya laban sa ating butihing congressman, mayroong mga platform na available sa kanya sa ating batas upang kanyang mai-file ang ninanais na kaso ngunit hindi po isa doon ang pagpo-post ng mga mapanirang pananalita laban [sa congressman],” Cu added.
Lucas has been claiming that Rivera is involved in substandard flood control projects, also citing a conflict of interest. She has also posted the lifestyles of the congressman, his Concepcion, Tarlac, vice mayor wife Evelyn, and their children.
In the Philippines, cyberlibel is a serious offense governed by Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. This law extends the traditional definition of libel under the Revised Penal Code to include defamation conducted through electronic means and is punishable by six to 12 years in prison.
