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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Rep De Lima, priest file charges vs 'ex-Marines,' lawyer Baligod

Rep De Lima, priest file charges vs 'ex-Marines,' lawyer Baligod

Published Mar 9, 2026 01:26 pm
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima and human rights activist Fr. Flavie Villanueva on Monday, March 9, filed separate perjury complaints against the 18 alleged former Marines who claimed that billions of pesos were delivered to various legislators and other government officials as ‘kickbacks’ in flood control projects.
Before filing their complaints at the Department of Justice (DOJ), De Lima and Villanueva lodged before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) libel and cyber libel charges against the 18 former ‘Marines’ and their lawyer Levito Baligod.
“Kasinungalingan ho ‘yan na meron ako tinatanggap (The allegations that I received money are all lies),” De Lima said during an interview at the DOJ.
“Since these are untruthful statements made in their sworn affidavits, ‘yung pinagsamang sinumpaang salaysay signed and executed by these 18 alleged Marines, nagpasya po na magfile ng complaint affidavits for perjury kasi nga ho kasinungalingan para ilito ang mga tao, para sirain na naman ang aking pangalan (Since these are untruthful statements in their joint sworn affidavits that were signed and executed by these 18 alleged Marines, I decided to file a complaint affidavits for perjury because these are all lies meant to confuse the people and destroy my name again),” she said.
De Lima said the former ‘marines’ accused her of having received P30 million to P70 million following a meeting with former Ako Bicol Party-List representative Elizaldy Co and Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez.
For his part, Villanueva said: “Kaya kami narito ay sampahan at sabihing sinungaling ang inyong paratang sa amin (we are here to file a complaint to say that the allegations against us are all lies).”
He said the 18 former “Marines” were trying to destroy the credibility of the Filipino witnesses at the International Criminal Court (ICC) where former president Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity over the extrajudicial killings in the illegal drugs campaigns.
He added: “Gusto nila idiin na ang mga testigo ay bayaran (they wanted to insist that the witnesses could be paid).”
Last March 5, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed before the DOJ perjury complaints against the 18 former “Marines” who accused him of receiving $2 million as bribe for ICC investigators who looked into the extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs war.
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