Sen. Kiko Pangilinan during the Commission on Elections’ #PilipinasDebates2022: The Turning Point at the Sofitel Tent in Pasay City on March 20, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA (UPDATED) — Former senator Kiko Pangilinan has filed a cyber libel complaint before the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime against a YouTube channel creator as well as officers of YouTube and Google Philippines.

In his complaint-affidavit, Pangilinan identified the YouTube channel as Bungangera TV where several videos with malicious and libelous content against him and his family were uploaded.

Pangilinan said in his complaint that the videos depicted him as a person who abuses his wife and children.

“Due to said public and malicious imputations, I suffered and continue to suffer damage to my good name, reputation, and career as a public servant,” Pangilinan said in the complaint.

“The public and malicious imputations have also caused serious anxiety and stress to me and my family,” he added.

Pangilinan said he included YouTube and Google in his complaint because of their alleged inaction on his numerous complaints since the videos were uploaded in December last year.

“This morning uli, pero since December nire-report na natin, so December noon March na ngayon,  hanggang ngayon naka-upload pa rin, walang aksyon eh, parang, ang tingin ko rito arrogance na rin eh, masyado silang arogante, hinahayaan nila iyong ganitong klase ng pagwawasak ng pagkatao,” Pangilinan said.

(This morning, but since December we have been reporting, so from December to March the video remains uploaded and there is no action yet. I think this is arrogance, they are very arrogant.)

Pangilinan also addressed companies whose advertising materials are being shown in malicious videos on YouTube.

“Me mga social media, digital ads, advertising, mga kumpanya ito, pinag-aaralan namin ngayon, pakiusap natin sa mga kumpanyang ito ay busisiin ninyo ng husto kung saan napupunta yung mga digital advertising ninyo, kung ito ay napupunta sa mga channel na nagkakalat ng libel, pe-pwede silang maging liable for moral damages,” Pangilinan said.

(There are social media, digital ads, our appeal to companies is to be meticulous where they want their ads uploaded.)

In a statement, Youtube explained that it has clear policies regarding acceptable content, and take legal considerations into account when evaluating reports.

"YouTube, which is operated by Google LLC based in the US, has clear policies that outline what content is not acceptable to post. The company quickly takes action against the videos and creators violating these policies when flagged. In addition to flagging content for review, people can submit complaints against content they believe violates their rights, including defamation, by filing legal complaints through the online legal removals webform. YouTube takes local legal considerations into account when evaluating these requests and may restrict access to a video after a thorough review,” it said.

POLITICS, 2025 POLLS

Asked if the videos were also uploaded because of politics, Pangilinan said the content might also be politically motivated even if he is currently not in government service.

“Meron pa ring halong pulitika kasi kahit paano tayo naman ay naging kandidato noong nakaraan halalan, so maaaring meron, kasi noong natapos ang eleksyon hindi naman natapos ang paninira. Iyon din ang ipinagtataka ko,” Pangilinan said.

(There is politics behind this, possibly, because even after the elections, the criticisms against me have not stopped. That is what puzzles me.)

Pangilinan, who is also serving as Liberal Party chairperson, said they are currently going around the country but with no definite plans on what to do for the 2025 midterm elections.

“Nagpapalakas pa kami, at nagpapalawak pa, at nagpaparami pa, iyon lang ang ginagawa natin sa ngayon but of course at the right time we will announce iyong mga plano natin but hopefully we can provide alternatives para makapagpili ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We are expanding our network, that’s it for now, but at the right time we will announce our plans.)