Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV arrives at the Department of Justice building in Manila on March 5, 2026. Trillanes filed criminal complaints against 18 “ex-Marines,” Atty. Levito Baligod, ex-Congressman Mike Defensor, Lorraine Badoy, and Cathy Binag over claims that he supposedly received $2 million intended for investigators of the International Criminal Court who are investigating the case filed against President Duterte.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

TRILLANES files perjury case

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said more charges will be filed against the 18 supposed bagmen of resigned congressman Zaldy Co over their allegations of making payoffs to former and sitting government officials.</p><p>Prosecutors of the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice have already recommended the filing of cyberlibel charges in court against lawyer Levito Baligod and the 18, according to a July 1 resolution. </p><p>“More to come,” Trillanes said in a social media post.</p><p>In the resolution, prosecutors recommended filing one count of cyberlibel against Baligod and the following who claim to have delivered kickbacks on Co&#x27;s behalf:</p><ul><li>Belnard Tube</li><li>Rosebert Waupan</li><li>Benny Bulontate</li><li>Johnny Buduan</li><li>Rodante Orbillo</li><li>Reyneboy Julian</li><li>Christopher Esquivel</li><li>George Villalon Jr.</li><li>Romeo Rommel Bobares</li><li>Gil Navidad Jr.</li><li>Anselmo Taberdo</li><li>Joely Cadiao</li><li>Rommel Galapon</li><li>Cecilio Larroder Jr.</li><li>Bernard Gumban</li><li>Crisanie Dado</li><li>Fidel Corpuz</li><li>Walter Manalansan</li></ul><div><br/></div><p>The cyberlibel charge were prompted by their February 23 affidavit, their February 24 press conference at Club Filipino, and subsequent Facebook posts and online publications.</p><p>Prosecutors also recommended a separate perjury charge against the 18 and another cyberlibel charge over their March 5 press conference in Valle Verde and subsequent publications.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRILLANES&#x27; COMPLAINT</strong></div><p>In his complaint, Trillanes cited the respondents’ claims of an alleged extensive corruption scheme involving large sums of money packed in luggage, or “maletas,” purportedly linked to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.</p><p>Trillanes also raised that Baligod publicly accused him of receiving $2 million from Co to finance the activities of investigators of the International Criminal Court into a crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Prosecutors said “there is prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction for cyberlibel&quot; —  the DOJ&#x27;s new standard for filing cases — against Baligod and the 18.</p><p> The prosecutors dismissed the complaints against Lorraine Badoy-Partosa, Mary Catherine Binag, Michael Defensor, Jay Sonza, Byron “Banat By” Cristobal, Oliver “Coach Oli” Cristobal, Judean a.k.a. “Master Judea” Morcoso, Arjay “Pareng Arjay” Piodina, and Swara Sug Media Corp. “Sonshine Media Network International” News Channel.</p><p>Baligod said they would file a motion for reconsideration.</p><p>He argued that Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon “erred” in recommending the cyberlibel charge because there was no proof that they posted the affidavits on social media.</p><p>“On the perjury case, the established truth is the evident credibility of the randomly selected eight of the 18 former soldiers as stated in the Public Announcement of the Office of the Ombudsman,” he also said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/ph-navy-4-of-18-presented-as-bagmen-were-never-marines-0910">PH Navy: 4 of 18 presented as ‘bagmen’ were never Marines</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/trillanes-files-criminal-raps-vs-18-ex-marines-badoy-others-over-icc-payola-claims-1148">Trillanes files criminal raps vs 18 &#x27;ex-Marines,&#x27; Badoy, others over ICC payola claims</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/35AYLNa2_S8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said more charges will be filed against the so-called 18 “ex-marines” over their “maleta” allegations against several individuals, including former and incumbent government officials.</p>

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said more charges will be filed against the so-called 18 “ex-marines” over their “maleta” allegations against several individuals, including former and incumbent government officials.

Trillanes says more cyberlibel charges to come vs 18 bagmen and lawyer

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Trillanes says more cyberlibel charges to come vs 18 bagmen and lawyer

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 02:39 PM PHT

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