Trillanes sues Duterte supporters

‘PERSISTENT ATTACKS’ Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday. —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed libel and cyberlibel cases on Tuesday against “pro-Duterte” personalities and social media account holders due to “persistent online attacks and the dissemination of false accusations.”

The separate complaints for libel and cyberlibel were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts and executives, and vlogger Byron Cristobal, also known as Banat By.

Trillanes filed the complaint against Roque and Banat By for alleging that he sold and gave away Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to China during his back-channel talks in 2012.

“Despite my repeated explanations on what transpired during my back-channel talks, including official statements from incumbent government officials during Senate hearings conducted that we did not lose Scarborough, these pro-Duterte personalities continue to harp on this fake news to deflect blame from the Duterte administration,” Trillanes explained, as quoted in a press release from his office.

Other complaints

A separate complaint was also filed against a certain Guillermina Barrido and SMNI hosts and executives for airing an interview in which Barrido “repeatedly alleged” the former senator tried to persuade and pay her to be a fake witness against then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Barrido, in 2019, filed a kidnapping case against Trillanes, claiming she was held from Dec. 6 to 21, 2016, and forced to sign a “ready-made affidavit to destroy the reputation of the present administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”

Additionally, Trillanes also filed criminal complaints at the National Bureau of Investigation against the social media account owners of Mr. Realtalker or Lods Chinito (with TikTok handles @chinitorealtalker and @chinitotisoy01); Melagin Nastor Evangelista or CATASTROPHE (with X handle @gurlbehindthisb); JoeLas (with X handle “@j_laspinas), Michael Gorre or KampilaBoy (with X handle @KampilanBoy); Hampaslupang Mandaragat (with X handle @JohnAmasa2); and X handle @SaraAll2028, “for similarly spreading disinformation and libelous statements about him.”