The Department of Justice (DOJ) said public officials named by a group of 18 former Marines in explosive allegations may file legal cases if they believe they were slandered.
DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez clarified that holding public office does not bar anyone from seeking legal remedies.
“Nothing prevents any public official from filing a case against anyone who they allege to have slandered them or spoken ill about them. That’s within their capacity. They can do so,” said Martinez.
However, he stressed that any complaint must go through the standard legal process and will still be evaluated by prosecutors.
The issue arose after 18 former Marines surfaced at a press briefing in San Juan City organized by lawyer Levi Baligod. They alleged delivering suitcases containing billions of pesos to residences supposedly linked to Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The group claimed they previously worked for businessman and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Their statements were contained in an unsigned affidavit and presented as support for earlier testimony by Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September 2025.
Guteza alleged he delivered suitcases supposedly containing about P48 million each to high-ranking officials.
Baligod also claimed part of the funds from an alleged flood control scandal was used to entertain investigators of the International Criminal Court, which is hearing crimes against humanity charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Trillanes was accused of receiving $2 million to bribe ICC officials in The Hague.
Malacañang has strongly denied the kickback allegations against Marcos.IMT
