Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday filed a P100-million cyber libel case against a popular pastor who has close ties with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, Pacquiao filed a cyber libel complaint against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, and demanded P100 million in damages plus attorney’s fee.

“He used this deliberate falsehood to brainwash the minds of the Filipino public, recklessly propagating lies to blacken the image and reputation of an honest public servant. He even had the audacity to quote the Holy Scripture in furtherance of his lies, misleading his flock, and confusing the public, with the end in view of blackening another’s reputation,” the complaint stated.

“His statements, as outlined below, are far from hollow. They are criminal in nature and cannot go unpunished,” it added.

Pacquiao said Quiboloy, the owner of Sonshine Media Network International, alleged that public funds were misused for the unfinished Sarangani Sports Training Center that the pastor claimed has become “white elephant.”

Quiboloy said the project had cost the government P3.5 billion.

Pacquiao also defended the corruption allegations he made against government, saying these were backed up by documents and testimonies.

“My statement relating to the prevalence of corruption in the Philippines under the current administration and the time of the Covid-19 pandemic is based on findings from documents and information I obtained from concerned citizens,” his complaint said.

“Prior to leaving for the USA for my world championship fight while representing the flag and country, I had a press conference on July3, 2021, where I showed further proof of the prevalence of graft and corruption in the administration,” the complaint added.