MANILA — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a cyberlibel complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta in connection with a June 4 hearing conducted by the group aligned with Cayetano.

In a media report, it said that also named as respondents in the complaint were the 18 individuals who previously claimed to have delivered cash from former lawmaker Zaldy Co to several personalities.

In an ambush interview, Trillanes argued that the senators had neither the authority nor parliamentary immunity to conduct the hearing, which he described as a “rogue” proceeding.

“Sila ‘yung nag facilitate noon, nag extract nung mga kasinungalingan na sinabi nung mga 18 bodyguards, ‘no?” Trillanes said.

(They facilitated it, they extracted the lies from the 18 bodyguards.)

In his complaint, Trillanes alleged that a conspiracy existed between the lawmakers and the 18 individuals who testified during the hearing.

He claimed that Cayetano reinforced what he described as the “libelous accusations” made by the 18 individuals through his own statements during the proceedings.

Trillanes also accused Marcoleta of insinuating that his alleged links to the International Criminal Court (ICC) were “rapacious and traitorous.”

The former senator cited changes in Senate leadership that took place before the June 4 hearing.

He noted that the former minority bloc, together with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, elected Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President during the continued absence of Cayetano and other members of the majority bloc. The group also announced new committee leadership assignments following the reorganization.

“The day before [the hearing], napalitan na si Cayetano. Napalitan na rin si Marcoleta bilang Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. And yet pinursue nila ‘yun,” he said.

(The day before the hearing, Cayetano was replaced. Marcoleta was also replaced as Blue Ribbon Committee hearing chairman. And yet they pursued it.)

Trillanes further alleged that the 18 individuals repeated accusations against him during the hearing.

“Because of that wala silang parliamentary immunity. Muli inulit nila ‘yung mga kasinungalingan na sinabi nila na nag bigay sila ng male-maletang pera sa akin para sa ICC. Hindi po totoo ‘yun,” he said.

(Because of that, they have no parliamentary immunity. They repeated the lies they made that they gave me suitcases full of money for the ICC. That is not true.)

The former senator previously filed separate perjury and cyberlibel complaints against the same 18 individuals in March. According to him, those complaints have already been submitted for resolution.

“Itong mga 18 ex-bodyguards na ito, habang patuloy silang nagpapagamit doon sa mga political backers nila ay ano, meron silang kakaharapin na consequence,” he said.

(These 18 former bodyguards, as long as they continue allowing themselves to be used by their political backers, will face consequences.)