CAMARIN, North Caloocan — Citing false allegations of bribery hurled against him by lawyer Levito Baligod and others, former senator Antonio 'Sonny' Trillanes IV has filed criminal complaints against his accusers, for cyber libel and perjury over the claims he accepted US$2 million to bribe the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure the prosecution of former president Rodrigo 'Rody' Duterte.

The ex-lawmaker filed the Cyber-libel raps before the Department of Justice in Manila against Baligod and the 18 former Marines and self-confessed former security aides of resigned Ako Bikol party-list representative Elizaldy 'Zaldy' Co, who claimed in a press conference on February 24 to have delivered billions in cash to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos and even Trillanes himself.

Also included in the complaint are other pro-Duterte personalities and former congressman Michael 'Mike' Defensor, former newscaster Jose 'Jay' Sonza, former anti-insurgency spokesman Lorraine Badoy-Partosa and vlogger Cathy Binag, whom Trillanes claimed were instrumental in spreading the propaganda against him at the Department of Justice on March 5, 2026.

Also in a separate legal action, National Security Agency (NSA) chief Eduardo Año likewise filed criminal charges against the same respondents over what he described as “malicious imputations” and fabricated allegations linking him to large-scale bribery.

The respondents were charged by Año with unlawful means of publication and unlawful utterances under the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, before the Department of Justice (DoJ). He asserted that the filing of charges marked only the first legal action he intended to pursue against those he believed orchestrated the accusations.

“I was really surprised. And of course, you can say I am really mad with their malicious imputations. Never in my life would I do that,” he enthused.

The filing of the criminal complaint against Baligod and his co-respondents arose from the allegations of the 18 alleged former Marines that they delivered billions of pesos in 'kickbacks' in the flood control projects to several government officials, including President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Año.

The national security adviser strongly denied the allegations, stressing that such accusations run contrary to his decades of service in the military and government: “Integrity has always guided (my) conduct in public service, including during (my) tenure as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” Año noted while citing that the complaint “is just the first” charge.

“There will be succeeding cases that will be filed,” he announced to forewarn that he intends to file cyber libel and perjury charges against the respondents, too.

Also at the center of Año's complaint was the February 24 press conference organized by Baligod at Club Filipino in San Juan and during which the lawyer introduced the Marine soldiers—identified as Belnard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontate, Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilio Larroder Jr., Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz and Walter Manalansan—as former security personnel of ex-sectoral congressman Co.

Baligod alleged that the 18 ex-Marines had delivered ₱805 billion in cash packed in suitcases or 'maletas' to President Marcos, several lawmakers and other officials.

Most significantly, however, Baligod claimed Trillanes received $2 million (approximately ₱116 million to fund and facilitate the ICC investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs.

According to the complaint, Baligod said that two suitcases containing ₱56 million were handed to Trillanes to facilitate arrangements for the ICC investigators, adding that the vehicles used and the hotel accommodations were allegedly shouldered by Co and the former senator.

The complaint further noted that a day before the press conference, the 18 respondents executed a notarized affidavit detailing the claims. In that affidavit, the affiants made specific allegations against Trillanes, including that they delivered cash to his office in Quezon City on multiple occasions, that Trillanes met with Co and former speaker Martin Romualdez at the Manila Polo Club, and that accommodations for ICC personnel were paid for by Co and Trillanes.