Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed criminal complaints against 18 alleged former marines and five other individuals over accusations that he accepted a $2 million bribe for International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators probing extrajudicial killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The complaints—covering perjury, incriminating an innocent person, and cyberlibel—stemmed from a February 24 press conference held by the 18 “former marines,” who were accompanied by their legal counsel, Levito Baligod.
After the filing of the complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, March 5, Trillanes told journalists the accusation against him “is not true.”
“Wala akong natanggap na $2 million at kung ano mang halaga mula kay Zaldy Co para sa ICC operations,” he pointed out.
Named in the perjury complaint are the 18 “former marines” who were identified as Belnard E. Tube, Rosebert M. Waupan, Benny S. Bulonte, Johnny A. Buduan, Rodante P. Orbillo, Reyneboy O. Julian, Christopher T. Esquivel, George O. Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel O. Bobares, Gil N. Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely G. Cadioa, Rommel C. Galapon, Ceceilio S. Larroder Jr., Bernard A. Gumban, Crusanie L. Dado, Fidel M. Corpus, and Walter M. Manalansan.
He also filed complaints for cyberlibel and incriminating an innocent person against Baligod, former congressman Michael Defensor, former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, broadcaster Jay Sonza, and vlogger Cathay Binag.
“Kasama sila dun sa nag-circulate nitong kasinungalingan na ito,” explained Trillanes about the complaints against the five respondents.
During an interview, Trillanes said: “Ilan d’yan sa 18 na ex-soldiers na ‘yan ay aamin kung sino talaga ang nasa likod nito at anong plano nila at kung ano man ang ibinigay sa kanila para kapalit nitong paglabas nila sa press con.”
He assured that the motives behind the allegations would come out.
He expressed his belief that the Duterte camp was behind the Feb. 24 press conference that accused the Marcos administration of having distributed billions in pesos in cash to various government officials.
“Unang-una, they stand to benefit most dito sa pangyayaring ito. Tapos marami na nakalap na ebidensya, impormasyon na nagtuturo doon sa grupo nila,” he explained.
Trillanes noted that the lawyer of former president Duterte, in the latter’s case before the ICC at The Hague in the Netherlands, had said they would use the allegations of the 18 “former marines.”
He admitted that he has been in contact with the ICC since 2017 when he filed a case against Duterte.
“I never denied anything. Sinabi ko, inaamin ko, nakikipag-ugnayan ako sa kanila,” said Trillanes who refused to provide details due to security concerns for the ICC officials and witnesses. (Jeffrey Damicog)
