Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate five to 10 vloggers over alleged defamatory attacks against him on social media.

According to a report by RH Jecelle Ricafort, Abante personally went to the office of NBI Director Melvin Matibag, accompanied by his daughter, House spokesperson Princess Abante.

In an ambush interview, the lawmaker described the alleged smear attacks, falsehoods and malicious claims being circulated against him online as “below the belt.”

“Below the belt na, yung mga kasinungalingan, yung mga kalokohang ginagawa, l've been very kind to those who are actually attacking me,” Abante said.

“Siyempre, congressman tayo, hindi maaalis na hindi lahat may gusto. Pero pag below the belt na yun, yung ginagawa sa'yo, eh dapat na talaga bigyan ng closure, he added.

Abante cited a blind item about a Korean pastor who was allegedly banned from two golf clubs for a harassment case.

The lawmaker, who is also a pastor, said a broadcaster had already clarified that the blind item did not refer to him. Despite this, he alleged that some vloggers continued to link him to the story.

“'Yung pastor na blind item, isang columnist na Korean pastor, eh nanghipo daw ng mga umbrella girls, eh binabaling sa akin. Ako, hindi ko alam yan. Very ignorant ako about it,” he said.

Abante acknowledged that he plays golf but said he does not play in Antipolo and had not played for some time because of his busy schedule.

Abante said he intends to file cyber libel complaints once those responsible for the alleged “character assassination” have been identified.

He said he did not know what motivated the attacks or whether they were connected to his support for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I don't know kung anong motibo nila, no? Whatever it might be, because of the impeachment, I don't know. Hindi ko alam,” Abante said.