Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima and Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation founder Fr. Flavie Villanueva arrive at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on March 9, 2026, to file separate perjury charges against the 18 former marines.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773038149120viber_image_2026-03-09_12-47-09.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima and Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation founder Fr. Flavie Villanueva arrive at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on March 9, 2026, to file separate perjury charges against the 18 former marines.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) a cyberlibel complaint against 18 supposed former Marines and their lawyer Leviste Baligod for tagging her in an alleged bribery scheme involving the International Criminal Court. </p><p>The group had claimed that De Lima was one of the recipients of cash-filled suitcases linked to flood control kickbacks from former lawmaker Zaldy Co. They also claimed they had seen her in meetings between public officials and the ICC. </p><p>Baligod later admitted in a radio interview that De Lima’s inclusion in the list of lawmakers who allegedly received &quot;maletas&quot; or luggage of cash totaling P800 billion was an oversight.</p><p>De Lima has questioned the timing of the allegations, which came as the ICC held confirmation of charges hearings on the crimes against humanity case against ex-president Rodrigo Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/27/-that-s-a-total-lie-de-lima-eyes-lawsuit-over-maleta-kickback-allegations-1048">&#x27;That&#x27;s a total lie!&#x27; De Lima eyes lawsuit over &#x27;maleta&#x27; kickback allegations</a></div><p>“Itong mga ganito, pang-divert sa mga issue. Napaka-klaro ang timing nila dahil may ongoing sa ICC and then itong padating na impeachment proceeding against VP Sara. Inililihis nila ang issue, nagiging desperado na sila,” she said.</p><p>“Nakikita nila na the way things are developing in the ICC, sa tingin ko and observed by many na talagang uusad ‘yung kaso.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PERJURY</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><br/><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773029447230HC77XVsaQAAdpTn.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Fr. Flavie Villanueva file perjury complaints vs. 18 “ex-marines” at the Department of Justice. 📷 Contributed photo</span></span></span></div><p>De Lima and Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation founder Fr. Flavie Villanueva also filed separate perjury complaints against the 18 “ex-marines&quot; before the Department of Justice.</p><div><br/></div><p>Asked who is behind the supposed lies propagated against her, De Lima said she agrees with former senator Antonio Trillanes that the Duterte camp is behind the 18 “ex-marines.”</p><p>“Ginawa niyo na iyan dati sa akin, for almost seven years, unjustly detained, for trumped up, fabricated illegal drug trading charges, and now you’re doing this again? Para palabasin na ako ay corrupt, tumatanggap ng pera, pwede po ba, sobra na, stop it,” de Lima said.</p><p>As for Fr. Villanueva, his name was mentioned by the “ex-marines” as the point person for the meetings between the ICC personnel and families of victims of extra-judicial killings during the Duterte administration.</p><p>“Isinagawa nila ito, tinaon nila ito sa imbestigasyon, pangalawa idinawit nila at pilit idinadawit iyong mga taong gustong ilantad iyong katotohanan... Ito ay tutuldukan ko, sapagkat kilala ko ang mga biktima kung paano sila pinatay at kilala ko rin ang matinding takot at patuloy na pananakot,” Fr. Villanueva said.</p><p>The Philippine Navy earlier noted 4 of the 18 alleged bagmen were never part of the Navy or the Marines and that majority of the accusers were dishonorably discharged.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BALIGOD DISBARMENT BID</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. filed a verified disbarment complaint before the Supreme Court against Baligod over his media interviews. </p><p>“Kasi nanumpa ka, ‘pag abogado ka magsasabi ka lang ng totoo eh, iyong bearing false witness against people, dapat totoo lang, hindi maganda ang ginawa niya, kasi nag-serve ako ng Armed Forces for 38 years, ni minsan hindi ako na-involve sa anomalies,” Catapang said. </p><p>Before heading to the Supreme Court, he also filed a libel complaint against Baligod and a perjury complaint against the “18 ex-Marines” before the Office of the Prosecutor General.</p><p>In his complaint, Catapang denied delivering 8 suitcases to former House Appropriations Committee chair Zaldy Co.</p><p>“Sabi ko hindi totoo kasi unang-una wala naman ganong kalaking pera, walang ganong kalaki ang BuCor para nakawin ko, kasi kung may pera naman ang BuCor ay ginamit naman po sa construction at wala naman po kaming DPWH projects wala po kaming ghost projects at hindi po kami na-involve sa whatever anomalies,” Catapang said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HArXRA321Lg" title="Sagot ni De Lima: Nagbukas ng dalang maleta, inilabas ang laman ng bitbit na paper bag |ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday filed a cyberlibel complaint against 18 supposed former Marines and their lawyer Leviste Baligod for tagging her in an alleged bribery scheme involving the International Criminal Court.</p>

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday filed a cyberlibel complaint against 18 supposed former Marines and their lawyer Leviste Baligod for tagging her in an alleged bribery scheme involving the International Criminal Court.

De Lima files cyberlibel complaint vs ‘ex-Marines’, lawyer over ICC bribery claims

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De Lima files cyberlibel complaint vs ‘ex-Marines’, lawyer over ICC bribery claims

Zyann Ambrosio,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 09, 2026 09:36 AM PHT

|

Updated Mar 09, 2026 03:39 PM PHT

Read More:

De Lima

Leila De Lima

Marines

ICC

bribery

flood control

Baligod

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