Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV denied allegations that he received $2 million or any amount from former congressman Zaldy Co to fund an International Criminal Court investigation.
In a statement, Trillanes said the accusation was an attempt to discredit the ongoing ICC proceedings related to former President Rodrigo Duterte. He said he would file cyberlibel cases against lawyer Levi Baligod, former lawmaker Mike Defensor, broadcaster Jay Sonza, 18 former Philippine Marines and others he accused of spreading the claim.
“I vehemently deny that I received $2M or any amount from Zaldy Co for the ICC investigation or any other purpose,” Trillanes said. He added that he would not be distracted and vowed to pursue legal action.
The denial came after 18 former members of the Philippine Marines accused ICC investigators of receiving money from Trillanes and Co. The former soldiers were previously linked to Orly Guteza, who earlier claimed he delivered suitcases of cash tied to alleged kickbacks from government projects.
During a press conference at Club Filipino, Baligod presented an affidavit from the former soldiers alleging they delivered money to Trillanes to support the ICC investigation against Duterte. The affidavit claimed the funds came from two suitcases containing P56 million each, which were converted into $2 million.
The former soldiers also alleged that when ICC investigators arrived in December 2023, Trillanes covered their hotel, food, transportation and other expenses.
Baligod said copies of the affidavit would be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman and shared with the ICC and its member states. He declined to provide a copy to the media, saying they would file a complaint first.
Trillanes rejected the accusations and maintained they were meant to undermine the ICC proceedings.
