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MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has once again filed cyberlibel complaints over the allegations against him by the 18 former Marines.
He filed the complaints at the Department of Justice on Monday, March 23. This is Trilanes’ second filing against the 18 former soldiers.
This newest case centers on allegations that Trillanes received millions of dollars to facilitate the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, which have been mentioned by the former marines in media interviews.
“Ito ay bunga nung kanilang mga interviews after nung kanilang presscon a few weeks ago,” Trillanes said in an ambush interview with reporters. (This is the result of their interviews following their press conference a few weeks ago.)
“So, bawat interview nalalabas sila, maka-expect sila ng kaso laban sa kanila,” he added. (So, for every interview they grant, they should expect a case to be filed against them.)
Trillanes also filed a cyberlibel complaint against Sonshine Media Network International and some of its hosts, as they allegedly provoked the 18 former Marines to make libelous statements and failed to provide a fair opportunity for rebuttal.
The following SMNI hosts were slapped with a cyberlibel complaint:
- Byron “Banat By” Cristobal
- Oliver “Coach Oli” Cristobal
- “Master Judea”
- Arjay “Pareng Arjay” Piodina
On March 5, Trillanes also filed complaints of cyberlibel against former lawmaker Mike Defensor and lawyer Levi Baligod over their allegations against Trillanes.
He also filed perjury complaints against the former 18 Marines.
Aside from Trillanes, perjury and cyberlibel complaints were also filed by individuals implicated by the former soldiers, namely, Rep. Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Partylist), Priest Flavie Villanueva, National Security Advisor Eduardo Año and Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Catapang Jr.
Not all ex-Marines signed
In an ambush interview, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said that out of the 18 individuals who underwent a rigorous question-and-answer session with investigators, only six officially signed their voluntary statements.
The 12 remaining witnesses opted not to sign after their lawyer intervened, Matibag said.
Their lawyer reportedly halted the process, stating a need to review the documents once they were reduced to writing, despite the witnesses having already provided their testimony during the interview phase.
“When it was reduced to writing for them to sign, dapat pipirmahan na sila. Pinigilan nung lawyer nila na huwag pirmahan kasi gusto niya i-review,” Matibag said. (When it was reduced to writing for them to sign, they were supposed to sign them already. Their lawyer prevented them from signing because he wanted to review it.)
He said the entire proceeding was captured through video recording with the explicit voluntary consent of the former Marines.
The recorded statement from the former Marines, Matibag said, were also made without "force or intimidation.”
Because the recordings capture the witnesses' recollections in their own words, the NBI believes the material still holds weight, despite the lack of signatures.
"It is up to the prosecution and the court how they will appreciate it [as evidence]," Matibag said in a mix of English and Filipino.
On March 17, Baligod, the lawyer of the former soldiers, said that his clients returned to the NBI to submit additional evidence related to the allegations contained in the joint affidavit they previously filed with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Following their submission to the Ombudsman, the office delegated the NBI for the investigation of the allegations.
