Nagsampa si former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV nitong Huwebes ng ikatlong libel complaint sa Department of Justice (DOJ) laban sa 18 dating bodyguards ni dating Cong. Zaldy Co.
Kasama rin sa 27-page complaint bilang respondents sina Senators Allan Peter Cayetano at Rodante Marcoleta dahil sa mga pahayag sa June 4 umano’y hearing tungkol sa anomalous flood control projects.
Nag-ugat ang reklamo sa proceeding na itinulak ng Cayetano bloc, kahit inanunsyo umano ni acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, isang araw bago nito, na walang official Senate business na gagawin sa araw na iyon.
“It bears stressing that the June 4, 2016 so-called ‘Blue Ribbon hearing’ was a pre-meditated, politically motivated stunt intended to do ulterior and unjustifiable harm to political figures critical of the Duterte family, including institutions such as in this case, the ICC (International Criminal Court),” sabi ni Trillanes.
Ayon kay Trillanes, kumilos umano nang magkakasama ang 18 dating bodyguards, na ilan ay nagsasabing dating miyembro ng Philippine Marines, kasama sina Cayetano at Marcoleta.
“At the onset, it is important to point out that the Respondents 18 ‘ex-marines’ clearly conspired and confederated with one another, and with their cohorts respondents Cayetano and Marcoleta, as shown by their unity of action, design, and purpose: their act of executing a clearly malicious and dubious Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay, and their act of jointly attending the June 4, 2026 so-called ‘Blue Ribbon hearing’, boosting each other’s claims, goading each to speak, propounding leading questions and supporting each other’s lies,” sabi ni Trillanes.
Sa June 4 proceeding, inakusahan ng dating bodyguards na inatasan umano silang maghatid ng bags of cash mula sa pondong umano’y konektado sa anomalous flood control projects.
Ayon sa kanila, may perang dinala umano sa mga personalidad na kritikal kay former president Rodrigo Duterte, kabilang si Trillanes, at umano’y para suportahan ang efforts kaugnay ng imbestigasyon ng International Criminal Court (ICC) sa war on drugs ng Duterte administration.
Paulit-ulit nang itinanggi ni Trillanes ang alegasyon at tinawag itong gawa-gawa.
“Contrary to the barefaced lies of Respondents 18 ‘ex-marines’ and the disparaging remarks couched in patriotic sentiments and legalese statements of respondents Cayetano and Marcoleta, the unchanging truth is that as early as 2017, I, along with former Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano and the late Atty. Jude Sabio, have spearheaded the fight against the brutal War on Drugs Policy of former President Duterte to the forum of the International Criminal Court,” sabi ni Trillanes sa kanyang complaint. /Bistado