From left to right: Second District Representative Maria Vanessa Aumentado, Willy Ramasola and Bohol Governor Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado. Contributed photo
BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
A former political ally turned fierce critic of Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado has vowed to continue his anti-corruption campaign despite facing a barrage of cyber libel charges from the governor and his congresswoman wife, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle between once-close political comrades.
Social media influencer Willy Ramasola, who helped architect graft cases against Aumentado’s predecessor, now faces 11 counts of cyber libel from Governor Aumentado and an additional three counts from Bohol Second District Congresswoman Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, his wife.
The cases were filed separately at the Tagbilaran City and Quezon City prosecutor’s offices this week.
Both Governor Aumentado and Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado were accompanied by their legal counsel, Atty. Popot Marapao, when filing their respective cases.
The charges mark a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Ramasola, whom Aumentado had previously supported as a board member candidate and who had served as an unofficial social media attack weapon against the governor’s political enemies.
In a series of defiant Facebook posts following the filing of cyber libel charges, Ramasola accused his former patron of hypocrisy and vindictive behavior, revealing private communications between them that allegedly show Aumentado’s involvement in political machinations and creation of trolls against rivals.
“Kabalo si Gov na ako ang architect sa mga anti-corruption cases gipang file sa Ombudsman. Dili lang ko ga Marites Marites diri sa Facebook. I walk the talk,” Ramasola wrote, using local slang for gossiping while asserting his role in filing corruption cases at the anti-graft court.
He continued: “Nitabang ko sa inyong kadaugan pero wala ninyo gamita sa tinarong ang inyong gahom. So naa koy katungod mo criticize. Then karon ikiha ko ninyo para pahilomon? Kuyawa gud mo. The truth shall set us free.”
The social media influencer revealed what he claims were instructions from Aumentado to attack political rivals, including former Bohol Governor Atty. Art Yap.
“Actually sa dili pa siya gobernador, si Aris Aumentado ang ga feed ug info nako anang overpriced na gasolina sa Capitol because of corruption. Pero ang pangutana is karon nga na Governador na si Opaw, eh naundang ba? Answer: Wala gyud kay lami man diay nang naa tay perme madawat for the boys diba?” Ramasola posted, suggesting alleged corruption continued under Aumentado’s administration.
FROM ALLIES TO ADVERSARIES
The feud is seen as a stunning reversal for two men who once worked closely together.
According to Ramasola’s social media posts, Aumentado regularly sought updates on corruption cases against former Governor Yap and monitored the movements of other political rivals.
“Duha ra ang perme niyang pangutana inig text niya kaniadto sa akoa. First, kumusta na ang mga kaso ni Art Yap. Second, unsay balita ni Evasco,” Ramasola revealed, referring to former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Toloy” Evasco.
He added: “Gusto niya (Aris) maguba si Art Yap sa mga kasong korapsyon sa Ombudsman. At the same time gusto niya bantayan ang mga lihok ni Evasco kung modagan ba ug Governor kay siya gyud ang ga ambisyon na modagan.”
The whistleblower characterized Aumentado as manipulative, saying: “Mangga gamit. Kung dili na magamit then iduot na niya” – describing him as someone who uses people and discards them when no longer useful.
LEGAL BACKGROUND
Cyber libel in the Philippines carries severe penalties under Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, with imprisonment ranging from 6 years and 1 day to 12 years – considerably harsher than traditional libel charges.
However, recent Supreme Court decisions have allowed courts to impose alternative penalties of fines instead of imprisonment, though this remains at the discretion of the judge.
The cases against Ramasola stem from his social media posts criticizing the Aumentado administration’s governance and alleging corruption.
Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado, in announcing her cyber libel cases, stated: “We stand by the truth. False accusations and malicious statements have no place in a just society.”
DEFIANCE AND INTIMIDATION CLAIMS
Ramasola rejected suggestions that he would need crowdfunding for legal expenses, addressing Governor Aumentado’s reported comment about him seeking donations.
“Niingon si Gov sa iyang interview na magkabuang kuno kog pangodak sa Studio para pang bayad sa akong pyansa. Nakaminos gyud. Ingana ra ka ubos iyang tinan-awan sa mga ordinaryong Bol-anon nga nangandoy ug tinarong na pang gobyerno pero gusto niya pahilomon,” he wrote.
He continued: “Ayaw kabalaka Gov. Naa paman poy mga supporters gusto mo tabang nako aning akong kausa whether sa financial donation or ilang prayers. Ug naa man pod koy na set aside savings pang gasto sa legal expenses aning imong kiha gi file batok nako. Don’t worry. Dili ko mohilom. Dili ko magpa intimidate. Dili ka nako atrasan.”
The social media influencer also warned government employees not to publicly support him, claiming the administration was monitoring social media interactions.
“Akong hangyo sa mga followers and suporters nga connected karon sa gobyerno: Palihog ayaw mo pag click like or comment or share sa akong posts as a show of your support sa akong laban against the Aumentado administration. Kay gibantayan nila ang tanan na ga like ug comment ug share sa akong posts,” he posted, alleging vindictive behavior against government workers who support his cause.
Ramasola claims credit for helping file graft cases against the previous administration while suggesting similar irregularities continue under current leadership.
The whistleblower noted the irony of facing libel charges while corruption cases remain pending: “Nganong ikiha man kog libel na gikiha naman gani mo sa Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for Graft and Corruption? Dili na Marites, Gov. This judicial notice vindicates me sa akong mga post na grabe ang corruption sa Bohol karon.”
He also referenced previous cyber libel cases filed against him by former Governor Yap in 2021, revealing what he sees as a pattern of officials using legal intimidation against critics.
“Sa kadtong gikiha ko ni Governor Art Yap in 2021 tungod sa akong mga kritisismo sa pang gobyerno ni Yap, ni ingon si Opaw na dapat dili balat sibuyas ang mga politiko. Pero after four years, sa karon na Gobernador na si Opaw, ako na naman hinoon ang iyang gikiha tungod sa akong kritisismo sa iyahang mas corrupt ug mas inutil na pang gobyerno.”
Ramasola concluded his social media statements with a promise to continue his anti-corruption advocacy: “The fight for good governance and clean, competent government shall continue.”
The governor’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on Ramasola’s specific allegations.