MANILA — House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of the ML party-list and Fr. Flavie Villanueva filed complaints against 18 individuals claiming to be former Marines, along with their counsel Levito Baligod former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co.

De Lima and Villanueva lodged a cyberlibel complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation and a perjury complaint with the Department of Justice. The supposed ex-Marines, aided by Baligod, had accused De Lima and others of accepting cash in suitcases from Co to build a case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Nandito kami sa DOJ dahil kaka-file lang po namin ng complaint-affidavit for perjury,” De Lima said in a tweet by GMA Integrated News’ Sandra Aguinaldo.
(We’re here at the DOJ because we filed a complaint-affidavit for perjury.)

“Since these are untruthful statements made in their sworn affidavit…signed and executed by the 18 alleged ex-Marines, nagpasya ako na mag-file ng complaint-affidavit for perjury kasi nga pawang kasinungalingan para ilito ang mga tao at siraan ang aking pangalan,” she added.
(Since these are untruthful statements made in their sworn affidavit…signed and executed by the 18 alleged ex-Marines, we decided to file the complaint-affidavit for perjury. These statements are false and are meant to confuse the public and besmirch my name.)

Baligod later admitted including De Lima in error and said she received the money in a paper bag in 2025.

“They are besmirching my name, smearing my reputation sa mga kasinungalingan na ito. Sana tigilan na nila ako. Stop your lies against me. Hindi pa ba kayo nanawa sa kapapanira sa akin? So I have to do something,” De Lima said.
(They are besmirching my name and smearing my reputation with their lies. I hope they would stop their lies. Stop your lies against me.)

Baligod, meanwhile, said they are “ready and willing to face all accusations against us” and hopes those named in the affidavit will respond in kind.

The allegations come as Duterte has been detained at an International Criminal Court facility for a year over crimes against humanity charges related to thousands of deaths during his drug war campaign. Officials and individuals mentioned in the affidavit have denied the claims, with the Philippine Navy stating that four of the 18 were never members of the Navy or Marine Corps.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV last week also filed a perjury complaint against the alleged ex-Marines.

“Sa ngalan ng mga homeless, sa ngalan ng mga biktima ng extrajudicial killing noong panahon ni Rodrigo Duterte, kami po ay naninindigan sa katotohanan. Ginamit nila ang marangal na pangalan ng Bahay Kalinga…patuloy pinapasinungalingan ang testimonya ng mga biktima na biniktima na nga pero patuloy pa rin nilang gustong sirain ang kanilang testimonya,” Villanueva said.
(In the name of those homeless victims of the extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, we stand for truth here. They used Bahay Kalinga and tried to discredit the testimony of the victims who were only telling the truth.)

De Lima said the actions of the alleged ex-Marines are a distraction, appearing shortly after the confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte at the ICC and impeachment proceedings against his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It could only be the handiwork of the Duterte camp. Just look at the timing. They aim to distract. Akala nila, maraming kakagat,” she said.
(They thought many will fall for their lies.)

“Crime does not pay. And lying is a crime,” De Lima added.