Trillanes Accuses Duterte's Allies of $2 Million Bribery Scheme
MANILA, Philippines—In a dramatic turn of events, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed criminal complaints at the Department of Justice, naming 18 former military personnel, lawyer Levi Baligod, former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor, and several media personalities. Trillanes claims these individuals have falsely accused him of receiving $2 million from former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, with the intention of bribing investigators at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The senator strongly denies these bribery allegations, labeling them as a calculated smear campaign orchestrated by the Duterte camp to protect the former president. He asserts that the campaign's goal is not only to defame him but also to cast doubt on the integrity of the ICC investigators.
Baligod faces charges of cyber libel and incriminating an innocent person for making conflicting and defamatory statements against the senator. Meanwhile, Defensor, along with former broadcaster Jay Sonza, former spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Lorraine Badoy, and vlogger Cathy Binag, are accused of being instrumental in propagating false allegations.
The 18 alleged former marines are facing complaints for perjury. Trillanes believes the Duterte camp is behind this smear campaign, citing evidence and information linking them to the former soldiers. When asked about the motive, he stated, 'They stand to benefit most from this.'
As the investigation unfolds, the Office of the Vice President has yet to respond to inquiries from The Inquirer.
