Manila, July 8 -- Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday filed fresh criminal complaints against lawyer Levito Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, and four others over what he described as defamatory allegations made during a June 16 press conference in Mandaluyong City.

Tulfo filed the complaint-affidavit before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor's Office, charging Baligod, Defensor, Jeron Valderama, Bernard Gumban, Virgilio Garcia, and Quezon City Councilor Ranulfo "Rannie" Ludovica with grave oral defamation under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The complaint stemmed from statements made during what was initially billed as a "Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee" hearing on...