Trillanes files cyber libel raps vs 18 ex-Marines

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MORE CHARGES. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV talks to the media after filing cyberlibel complaints against 18 alleged ex-Marines at the Department of Justice in Manila on Monday (March 23, 2026). The charges were in response to the group’s allegations that he delivered suitcases filled with cash to International Criminal Court investigators. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)

MANILA – Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday filed cyberlibel charges at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the 18 alleged ex-Marines who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with cash to the lawmaker intended for International Criminal Court investigators.

Trillanes said the complaints emanated from a series of media interviews granted by the ex-Marines who implicated him.

Included in the charges are hosts Byron “Banat By” Cristobal, Oliver “Coach Oli” Cristobal, “Master Judea” and Arjay Piodina of news platform SMNI.

“Hanggat patuloy silang nagkakalat ng mga kasinungalingan nila, tuloy-tuloy lang ang mga isasampa kong kaso laban sa kanila (As long as they continue to spread their lies, I will continue to file cases against them). I will not stop as long as they keep opening their mouths to spew lies,” Trillanes said in a media interview.

On March 5, Trillanes filed perjury complaint against the group and lawyer Levi Baligod, former congressman Mike Defensor, former newscaster Jay Sonza, National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson and physician Dr. Lorraine Badoy and businesswoman Cathy Binag.

Trillanes denied the respondents’ allegations that he received USD2 million from fugitive former party-list congressman Zaldy Co, one of the public officials linked to the anomalous flood control projects.