Trillanes files cyberlibel raps vs senators, 18 bagmen

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a cyberlibel complaint against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta and 18 self-proclaimed bagmen for implicating him in an alleged payoff from Zaldy Co during a non-Senate sanctioned Blue Ribbon hearing on June 4.

In his 27-page complaint, Trillanes said there was conspiracy among Cayetano, Marcoleta and the 18 men to malign him.

Trillanes said that during the non-Senate sanctioned hearing, one of the 18, Bernard Gumban, said that he delivered a big paper bag reportedly containing between P5 million to P10 million to the Magdalo headquarters located at 86 Scout Ojeda Street in Quezon City.

Gumban said he made a second delivery of six pieces of luggage.

Another bagman, Belnard Tube reportedly said in the same hearing that the money was allegedly intended for the “ICC” (International Criminal Court) and that they changed the money from peso to dollar.

Trillanes said in his affidavit that the statements of the 18 and the remarks of Cayetano and Marcoleta “construed all together in their entirety and taken in their plain, natural and ordinary meaning are unquestionably defamatory, seriously injuring my good name, honor and character, undermining my motives and good faith as a former public servant.”

“Their accusations are devoid of truth and without foundation in fact whatsoever. Their statements directly accuse me of brokering a back-alley deal with a foreign organization with nefarious motive. These defamatory remarks have exposed and continue to expose me to public ridicule and contempt,” he added.

Trillanes said malice could be presumed on the part of Cayetano and Marcoleta because the so-called Blue Ribbon hearing was not an official hearing, hence, does not fall under the “absolute privileged communications.”

The June 4 hearing, Trillanes said, was a “pre-meditated, politically motivated stunt intended to do ulterior unjustifiable harm to political figures critical of the Duterte family, including institutions such as in this case, the ICC.”

He also pointed out that there were inconsistencies and contradictions in the statements and testimonies of the 18 men.

Prior to the filing of the cyberlibel case yesterday, Trillanes had already filed a cyberlibel complaint against the 18 “maleta men” and other respondents last March before the DOJ.

Critics have noted the 18 men‘s flip-flopping on their statements. They have backtracked in implicating figures such as Rep. Leila de Lima, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and his wife Sharon Cuneta.

After Cayetano was unseated as Senate president, the 18 dropped his ally Sen. Loren Legarda from their list of alleged kickback recipients while adding members of the new majority, Erwin Tulfo and Francis Escudero.