Mamamayang Liberal Party-List representative Leila de Lima and human rights activist-priest Flavie Villanueva on Monday, March 9, filed separate perjury complaints against 18 alleged former marines who accused several lawmakers and officials of receiving billions in supposed “kickbacks” from flood control projects.
Before lodging the complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the two also filed libel and cyber libel charges before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the group and their lawyer, Levito Baligod.
De Lima rejected the accusations, saying the sworn affidavits contained false claims meant to mislead the public and damage her reputation.
“Kasinungalingan ho ‘yan na meron ako tinatanggap,” de Lima said.
She noted that the former marines alleged she received ₱30 million to ₱70 million after a supposed meeting with former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Villanueva likewise denied the claims, stressing that the complaints were filed to formally challenge what he described as false accusations.
“Kaya kami narito ay sampahan at sabihing sinungaling ang inyong paratang sa amin,” he said.
The priest further argued that the allegations were part of an effort to undermine the credibility of Filipino witnesses before the International Criminal Court (ICC), where former President Rodrigo Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign.
“Gusto nila idiin na ang mga testigo ay bayaran,” Villanueva added.
The complaints came just days after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV also filed perjury charges against the same group on March 5, following claims that he received $2 million in bribes supposedly intended for ICC investigators.