Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has warned lawyer Levito Baligod of a new legal case after the latter claimed on social media that Trillanes allegedly offered P10 million each to 18 individuals linked to the controversial "maleta" allegations.
In a Facebook post, Baligod questioned the supposed offer, writing: “Bakit kailangan niyong oferan ng 10M ang bawat isa sa B18? Para itago niyo ang katotohanan?”
The post came after Trillanes expressed confidence that one of the 18 alleged former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co would eventually recant and admit that their claims about the supposed suitcases of cash linked to anomalous flood control projects were fabricated.
Baligod uploaded a photo of a mobile phone displaying an alleged text message offering money in exchange for withdrawing a case and staying away from the media.
The message read in part:
“Pag ma okay ka ganito magka roon ka ng 5m e atras ang kaso then ma wala kana sa medya parang guteza na wala na... 5m ka bok meron ako 5m tulungan tayo bok magkaroon ka at magkaroon din ako,” the message read.
“At ang importante sa lahat ma wala ang kaso mo din manahimik nalang bok Kung kakasa ka unahan na natin. Pag sure kana saka ko na ilatag sa kanila,” it added.
Baligod did not identify the alleged sender of the message or provide further details regarding its authenticity.
Responding to Baligod's post, Trillanes issued a stern warning on social media.
“Mr. Baligod, i-takedown mo yang fake news mo na 'yan kundi panibagong kaso ang isasampa ko sa'yo. Ito ang iyong huling babala,” Trillanes said.
The latest exchange is the newest development in the escalating legal battle surrounding allegations that Trillanes received suitcases filled with cash supposedly intended for investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On March 23, Trillanes filed cyberlibel complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 18 alleged former Marines who publicly claimed they had delivered the cash-filled suitcases to him. The complaints also included SMNI hosts Byron "Banat By" Cristobal, Oliver "Coach Oli" Cristobal, Master Judea, and Arjay Piodina for their alleged role in spreading the accusations.
On June 25, Trillanes filed another cyberlibel complaint against Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta, along with the same 18 individuals, over statements made during the June 4 Senate inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
During the hearing led by Cayetano and Marcoleta, the alleged former aides of Co accused several public officials of receiving suitcases containing kickbacks from flood control projects, including Trillanes.
The former senator has consistently denied the allegations and maintained that those repeating the accusations could face separate cyberlibel charges.
“Bawat okasyon mo na sinasabi mo 'yung kasinungalingan na 'yun, 'yun ay one count. Ngayon, it's up to the judge if iko-consolidate nila ito, pero multiple counts na ang ginawa nila,” Trillanes said in an earlier interview.
Trillanes has maintained that he will continue pursuing legal action against individuals whom he says are spreading false accusations against him online.
