Philippines – Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he will drop the criminal complaints he filed against four of the 18 alleged ex-Marines who recently took back their bribery allegations against him.
According to a news report from Inquirer.net, Trillanes made the announcement on Friday after four of the men signed new affidavits reversing their earlier sworn statements.
What the 18 Men Originally Claimed
The group identified themselves as bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co. In their earlier statements, they made several serious accusations:
- Trillanes allegedly received $2 million to bribe investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
- The men claimed they delivered suitcases stuffed with cash to various political figures
These allegations were submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman in February.
Why the 4 Are Backing Out
In an interview, the four ex-Marines said they signed fresh affidavits to withdraw their previous claims. They explained the circumstances behind their original statements:
- They said they signed the earlier joint affidavit under pressure
- They were reportedly threatened with multiple charges if they refused to cooperate
- They claimed the group was promised financial aid in exchange for their statements
The four also revealed that some of the remaining 14 men are now thinking about recanting their allegations as well.
Trillanes Responds
Trillanes said he already instructed his lawyer to pull out the cases against the four men. He shared his decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
As a former soldier himself, he expressed sympathy for the four, saying they were exploited by people with dark political motives because they lacked steady livelihood. He added that he hopes they learned a hard lesson from what happened.
Trillanes also said he hopes the remaining 14 “will eventually see the truth.”
Why This Matters for Filipinos Abroad
For many Overseas Filipino Workers following developments back home, this case touches on issues close to heart — trust in public officials, the pressure ordinary Filipinos face, and how political conflicts play out in the courts.
The lawyer for the 18 ex-Marines, Atty. Levi Baligod, had not issued a response as of the report’s publication. The situation remains fluid, especially with more of the group reportedly weighing whether to follow the lead of the four who already reversed their claims.