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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
March 6, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Perjury complaints have been filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV against 18 men who claimed to be former Marines, over their allegations that they delivered suitcases and paper bags containing cash to him and several others.
The former senator also filed cyber liber complaint against their lawyer Levi Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, influencers Jay Sonza and Cathy Binag, and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson Lorraine Badoy-Partosa before the Department of Justice yesterday.
He was the second to press charges against Baligod and the others after National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who was among those accused of receiving a paper bag filled with cash, filed complaints before the DOJ against them for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (Unlawful Utterances and Publication) in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Trillanes accused Baligod and the others of “manufacturing a ‘bribery’ narrative to inject life into their failing smear campaign.”
Baligod’s group claimed he received $2 million from former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co to facilitate the investigations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the country on the deadly drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“They launched these lies a day before the EDSA people power anniversary to agitate the public and sow discord, and during the pivotal ICC pre-trial proceedings. This was a calculated strike designed to undermine the integrity of the proceedings and intimidate the ICC investigators and their witnesses,” he said.
The 18 men's “exposé” was timed with the ICC’s hearing on the confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte last week.
Trillanes had denied he received the alleged hefty bribe and maintained there was nothing wrong with his involvement in the ICC investigations since he was among the first to file communication with the international tribunal in 2017.
The statements of the 18 men might be used by Duterte’s ICC defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman to “disrupt the possible trial,” according to Trillanes.
He said he expected the 18 men to recant their statements and name those behind what he considered a well-funded conspiracy to besmirch the reputation of some personalities, especially those involved in the prosecution of Duterte.
Trillanes said Baligod’s group could also be held liable for violating Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
Article 70 of the Rome Statute ensures the identities of ICC investigators and witnesses would remain confidential.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, called on Baligod to submit the individual affidavits of the 18 former soldiers.
The individual affidavits of the 18 former soldiers “covers a span of 30 months,” which could cast doubt on the veracity of their recollection of events, according to Remulla.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who attended the briefing, expressed support for the 18 who claimed to have served as bodyguards and aides to Co. – Mark Ernest Villeza
