18 'ex-Marines' to tell all in Ombudsman probe, says Baligod

The 18 individuals claiming they delivered cash to politicians from former congressman Zaldy Co will reveal everything they know before the Office of the Ombudsman, their legal counsel said Monday.

Lawyer Levito Baligod said the affidavit is only the “initial” information and all details will be revealed during the Ombudsman’s investigation.

“Doon sa Ombudsman investigation, ‘yun ang medyo proper, no? So iisa-isahin ‘yan. Merong panel of investigators so doon nila ibibigay lahat pati ‘yung mga pictures, videos, doon lahat,” he said in an ambush interview when asked when they will reveal everything.

(As for the Ombudsman investigation, that is somewhat the proper venue, right? So everything will be taken up one by one. There is a panel of investigators, and that is where they will submit everything, including the pictures and videos.)

According to Baligod, the office has scheduled the appearance of the 18 individuals.

“Recently, nakatanggap ako ng tawag galing sa Office of the Ombudsman and humingi sila sa akin ng schedule kung kailan maaari pumunta ang mga sundalo doon at meron na kaming schedule,” Baligod said.

(Recently, I received a call from the Office of the Ombudsman and they asked me for a schedule as to when the soldiers could go there, and we already have a schedule.)

He said they will appear before the Ombudsman on June 11, 15, and 16.

The 18 former bodyguards filed their affidavit before the office in February.

Baligod and the 18 individuals were at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the preliminary probe on the complaints filed against them by former senator Antonio Tillanes IV, former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima and Father Flavie Villanueva, and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. at the DOJ.

Trillanes and Catapang personally attended the probe.

According to Baligod, De Lima and Villanueva, Catapang, and Trillanes filed a reply affidavit on the counter-affidavit filed by the 18 individuals and Baligod.

“Initially, nung iniscan ko ‘yung reply affidavit nila, ang sinasabi ay doon sa affidavit namin—nila pala—ay ilang beses nag deliver, let’s say kay Sonny Trillanes, pero nung ininterview sila ng SMNI, nadagdagan,” he said.

(Initially, when I scanned their reply affidavit, what it said was that in our affidavit—or rather, in theirs— they claimed they delivered several times to, let’s say, Sonny Trillanes. But when they were interviewed by SMNI, additional details were added.)

He maintained that this is because the affidavit is only “initial.”

Baligod also questioned how they could be charged with cyber libel when they did not post anything online.

Baligod said they will submit a rejoinder affidavit during the next preliminary probe on June 22. — BM, GMA News