Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday filed a third libel complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 18 former bodyguards of fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, as well as Senators Allan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta. The 27-page complaint stems from statements made during a June 4 hearing on anomalous flood control projects.
Alleged sham hearing
Trillanes asserted that the June 4 proceeding, pushed by the Cayetano bloc, was a "pre-meditated, politically motivated stunt" despite acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian announcing a day earlier that no official Senate business would be conducted that day. "It bears stressing that the June 4, 2016 so-called 'Blue Ribbon hearing' was a pre-meditated, politically motivated stunt intended to do ulterior and unjustifiable harm to political figures critical of the Duterte family, including institutions such as in this case, the ICC (International Criminal Court)," Trillanes said.
Conspiracy allegations
Trillanes alleged that the 18 former bodyguards, some claiming to be former Philippine Marines, acted in concert with Cayetano and Marcoleta. "At the onset, it is important to point out that the Respondents 18 'ex-marines' clearly conspired and confederated with one another, and with their cohorts respondents Cayetano and Marcoleta, as shown by their unity of action, design, and purpose: their act of executing a clearly malicious and dubious Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay, and their act of jointly attending the June 4, 2026 so-called 'Blue Ribbon hearing', boosting each other's claims, goading each to speak, propounding leading questions and supporting each other’s lies," Trillanes said.
Cash transport claims
During the June 4 proceeding, the former bodyguards alleged they were tasked to transport bags of cash from funds linked to anomalous flood control projects. They claimed some money was delivered to personalities critical of former president Rodrigo Duterte, including Trillanes, and was intended to support efforts related to the ICC's investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs. Trillanes has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them fabricated.
Trillanes' denial
"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 Partylist Representative 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 International Criminal Court," Trillanes said in his complaint.
