Photo courtesy of Ben Pulta/ Philippine News Agency
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes filed another cyberlibel complaint on Monday before the Department of Justice against 18 individuals identified as former Marines over bribery allegations.
The complaint stemmed from accusations that Trillanes received $2 million from former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co to bribe investigators from the International Criminal Court.
Also named as respondents were SMNI hosts Byron Cristobal, Oliver Cristobal, Master Judea, and Arjay Piodina for allegedly inciting and amplifying the claims.
In an ambush interview at the DOJ, Trillanes said the new complaint was based on inconsistencies in the statements of the alleged former Marines following their earlier press conference in February.
He said legal action would be pursued each time the individuals repeat the accusations in public.
Earlier, on March 6, Trillanes filed separate criminal complaints against the same group, along with their lawyer Levito Baligod, former Quezon City Representative Mike Defensor, and several media personalities.
He has denied the bribery allegation and previously linked the issue to what he described as a campaign connected to allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
During a February 24 press conference, Baligod presented the 18 individuals, who claimed they acted as intermediaries in delivering funds from alleged irregularities in flood control projects to several officials.