Trillanes includes Cayetano, Marcoleta in cyber libel raps
Lawsuits continue to pile up against the 18 self-proclaimed “former Marines” who had claimed earlier that they delivered suitcases of money to government officials.
On Thursday, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed another set of cyber libel complaints over the men’s allegations that he received bags of cash worth millions of pesos to bribe prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The fresh complaint, Trillanes’ third, brought before the Department of Justice (DOJ) also includes former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for their role in facilitating the unauthorized and unofficial blue ribbon hearing in the Senate on June 4, a day after the chamber was reorganized by a 12-member quorum.
“It is too late in the day—almost a full decade too late—for Respondents 18 ‘ex-marines,’ Cayetano and Marcoleta, to be tossing slanderous remarks of bribery and/or corruption on my person in connection with the ICC when my unyielding position on the necessity for ICC intervention was already up and about as early as 2017,” read Trillanes’ 27-page petition.
The supposed June 4 inquiry was organized by Sen. Pia Cayetano, the blue ribbon chair, before the reorganization. She proceeded with the hearing despite being unseated from the post and despite it not having any secretariat assistance for official recording.
Trillanes urged the DOJ prosecution to find the senators and the 18 men guilty of one count each of cyber libel under Section 4(c)(4) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and the Revised Penal Code, for the “malicious and libelous” claims they made during the “inquiry.”
In March, the former senator filed two separate cyber libel complaints against the 18 men, Baligod, former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor and SMNI hosts.
The men had previously presented themselves as former bodyguards and bagmen of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, who once headed the powerful committee on appropriations at the House of Representatives from July 2022 until stepping down amid controversies in January 2025.
In an interview with reporters at the DOJ, Trillanes said that the group must face consequences “as long as they continue to allow themselves to be used by their political backers.”
‘Conspired and confederated’
Trillanes stressed that the 18 individuals “clearly conspired and confederated” with the two senators “as shown by their unity of action, design and purpose.”
He pointed to the manner by which they “boost[ed] each other’s claims, goad[ing] each to speak, propound[ing] leading questions and support[ing] each other’s lies.”
The “malicious” and “defamatory” allegations by some of the members of the 18 bodyguards was brought to light through the questioning of Cayetano and Marcoleta, the ex-lawmaker noted.
Trillanes, who was accused of receiving suitcases and paper bags of cash from the bodyguards, purportedly handed the money to ICC investigators.
‘Barefaced lies’
In his complaint, Trillanes cited the following remarks by Marcoleta: “Why should we help them persecute our fellow Filipinos? Why not take the initiative? Their own expense, their own sacrifice.”
“Respondent Marcoleta insinuates that my connection with the ICC is rapacious and traitorous, of having abdicated our sovereignty and betrayed a fellow Filipino by receiving and/or giving bribe money to fund and facilitate the investigation of the (ICC),” Trillanes said.
“Contrary to the barefaced lies of Respondents 18 ‘ex-marines’ and the disparaging remarks couched in patriotic sentiments and legalese statements of respondents Cayetano and Marcoleta, the unchanging truth is that as early as 2017, I, along with former Magdalo party list Rep. Gary Alejano and the late Atty. Jude Sabio, have spearheaded the fight against the brutal war on drugs policy of former President Duterte to the forum of the (ICC),” he added.
Trillanes lodged a supplemental communication with the ICC in June 2017, urging The Hague-based tribunal to probe the killings under the war on drugs as no local entity has started any investigation.
Other officials and public figures who had filed cyber libel complaints against the group are Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Manila Representatives Joel Chua and Benny Abante Jr., former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Bureau of Corrections Director General Pio Gregorio Catapang Jr., Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Fr. Flavie Villanueva.
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