MANILA — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed another set of cyberlibel complaints before the Department of Justice against 18 former Marines who accused him of receiving millions of dollars to facilitate an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) involving detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The latest complaint, filed on March 23, marks Trillanes’ second case against the group of former soldiers and stems from statements they made during media interviews following a press conference weeks earlier.

“Ito ay bunga nung kanilang mga interviews after nung kanilang presscon a few weeks ago,” Trillanes said in an ambush interview with reporters.

“So, bawat interview nalalabas sila, maka-expect sila ng kaso laban sa kanila,” he added.

Trillanes also lodged cyberlibel complaints against Sonshine Media Network International and several of its hosts, alleging that they prompted the former Marines to issue defamatory statements and did not give him a fair chance to respond.

Those named in the complaint include Byron “Banat By” Cristobal, Oliver “Coach Oli” Cristobal, “Master Judea,” and Arjay “Pareng Arjay” Piodina.

Earlier, on March 5, Trillanes filed cyberlibel complaints against lawyer Levi Baligod and former lawmaker Mike Defensor over similar allegations. He also initiated perjury complaints against the 18 former Marines.

Other individuals implicated in the claims—among them Leila de Lima, priest Flavie Villanueva, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Catapang Jr.—have likewise filed perjury and cyberlibel complaints.

Trillanes denied the accusations that he received $2 million from fugitive former party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

“Hanggat patuloy silang nagkakalat ng mga kasinungalingan nila, tuloy-tuloy lang ang mga isasampa kong kaso laban sa kanila (As long as they continue to spread their lies, I will continue to file cases against them). I will not stop as long as they keep opening their mouths to spew lies,” Trillanes said.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said only six out of the 18 former Marines formally signed their sworn statements after undergoing questioning by investigators.

The remaining 12 declined to sign after their legal counsel intervened to review the documents, despite having already provided testimony during the interviews.

“When it was reduced to writing for them to sign, dapat pipirmahan na sila. Pinigilan nung lawyer nila na huwag pirmahan kasi gusto niya i-review,” Matibag said.

He noted that the entire proceedings were recorded on video with the consent of the former Marines and were conducted without force or intimidation.

Because the testimonies were captured in the witnesses’ own words, the NBI said the recordings may still carry evidentiary value.

“It is up to the prosecution and the court how they will appreciate it [as evidence],” Matibag said.

On March 17, Baligod said his clients returned to the NBI to submit additional evidence related to their allegations, which were earlier detailed in a joint affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman later tasked the NBI to conduct an investigation into the claims.