Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday filed perjury, cyber libel, and violation of Article 363 (Incriminating an Innocent Person) complaints at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 18 individuals identified as “ex-Marines,” along with lawyer Levito Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, and internet personalities Jay Sonza, Lorraine Badoy, and Cathy Binag.
The complaints stem from allegations that Trillanes received $2 million for International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators, and that billions of pesos were delivered to top officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
He denied receiving any funds, calling the claims “paninira” (smear) meant to undermine ICC investigations into former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He alleged that the Duterte camp orchestrated the accusations as propaganda.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año also filed complaints against the 18 ex-Marines, Baligod and Defensor yesterday, citing “malicious and fabricated” claims that he accepted cash in a meeting with Romualdez and former Senator Leila de Lima.
Año invoked Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (Unlawful Utterances and Publication) in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Both Trillanes and Año stressed that the allegations were baseless and aimed at discrediting them and the integrity of ongoing ICC proceedings. (ZIA LUNA)
