De Lima, Villanueva file separate raps vs alleged 18 ex-marines, counsel

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
March 10, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Leila de Lima/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima and Fr. Flavie Villanueva made a legal move against the alleged 18 ex-marines and Atty. Levi Baligod on Monday by filing separate complaints for what they deemed the malicious inclusion of their names in a fabricated narrative.

“Hindi tayo magwawalang kibo lang sa gawa-gawang paratang na naman laban sa akin. These personalities and all those behind this ridiculous allegation against me must also face legal consequences for their lies,” de Lima stressed.

(We won’t remain silent amid these fabricated allegations against me. These personalities and all those behind this ridiculous allegation against me must also face legal consequences for their lies.)

De Lima firmly believes the ones behind this noise are those from the Duterte camp, citing the odds of the story surfacing during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte in the lower house and the elder Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She added that these made-up stories won’t distract Filipinos from holding powerful people accountable.

“If they think they can distract us or weaken our resolve, they are all wrong. Hindi natin hahayaan na malihis nila ang atensyon natin sa tunay na isyu — ang pagsingil natin ng hustisya at pananagutan.”

(If they think they can distract us or weaken our resolve, they are all wrong. We won’t let them distract our attention from the real issue — the people’s call for justice and accountability.)

Villanueva told the press that these claims from these questionable personalities were only created to smear the credibility of the ongoing proceedings of former president Rodrigo Duterte before the international tribunal.

She and Villanueva filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against the 18 personalities and their lead counsel at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), whereas a separate set of perjury complaints was filed against the alleged 18 ex-marines at the Department of Justice (DOJ).