Trillanes files cyberlibel complaint vs. 18 marines, others

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday filed a cyberlibel complaint against the 18 former marines and others for implicating him in an alleged scheme involving the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Bunga ng kanilang mga interviews after ng kanilang presscon a few weeks ago. So bawat interview na lalabas nila, makaka-expect sila ng kaso laban sa kanila,” Trillanes said in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice.

(Based on their interviews after their press conference a few weeks ago. So they can expect the filing of a complaint against them for their every interview.)

To recall, 18 supposed former marines claimed that Trillanes facilitated the entry of at least five ICC investigators. They alleged that he received $2 million from Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co for the ICC investigation. 

He maintained that the allegations were a lie.

Trillanes also claimed that at least five former companions of the marines will come out it in the next few weeks to divulge the supposed truth.

“So inalukan din ng pera para lumabas pero hindi nila tinanggap,” he said.

(They were also offered money to accuse individuals but they did not accept it.)

The former senator also said that some of the 18 marines will retract their statements.

Trillanes, however, declined to divulge his source of information.

GMA News Online has contacted the marines' lawyer Levito Baligod to get their comments but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

When asked about allegations that the marines will retract their statements, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag denied this.

“Wala namang nagbanggit ng ganoon, pero nandodoon ‘yung voluntary statements nila that we’re looking into it, we’re looking into the voluntary statements,” he said in an ambush interview.

(No one mentioned anything like that, but their voluntary statements are there and we are looking into them, we are looking into the voluntary statements.)

The marines, Baligod, and other individuals previously appeared before the NBI in compliance with an issued subpoena. 

They later agreed to one-on-one interviews with the NBI agents.   

According to Matibag, six of the 18 signed the affidavits which stemmed from their one-on-one interviews while 12 did not.

“They stated ‘yung kanilang mga nalalaman based doon sa kanilang recollection. So voluntary statements nila ‘yan,” he said.

(They stated what they know based on their recollection. So those are their voluntary statements.)

Meanwhile, media personalities Byron "Banat By" Cristobal, Oliver "Coach Oli" M. Cristobal, "Master Judea," and Arjay "Pareng Arjay" Piodina are also included as respondents in the complaint, according to his camp.

Trillanes previously filed a perjury complaint against the marines as well as cyberlibel charges against  Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, former broadcaster Jay Sonza, former NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, and vlogger Cathy Binag.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of the ML party-list, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. have also filed complaints against the marines and others over the allegations. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News