FIVE OFFICIALS NOW SUING THE 18 EX-MARINES AS CATAPANG FILES AT DOJ AND DE LIMA HITS BACK WITH CYBERLIBEL AND PERJURY CHARGES

The legal walls around the 18 individuals claiming to be former Marines are closing from multiple directions.

On Monday, Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. filed criminal complaints against the 18 alleged ex-Marines and their lawyer, Atty. Levito Baligod, at the Department of Justice. Catapang is now the fifth official named in the group's allegations to strike back with formal legal action, according to Inquirer and Philstar.

Hours later, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of the ML party-list and Fr. Flavie Villanueva filed their own complaints: a cyberlibel case before the National Bureau of Investigation and a perjury charge before the DOJ, both targeting the same 18 individuals and Baligod, according to GMA News.

These are separate actions from separate complainants, all filed on the same day. The legal convergence is notable.

WHAT CATAPANG SAID

Catapang, who served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before his retirement in 2015, told reporters he felt betrayed by the involvement of his former subordinates.

"Perhaps I encountered some of them while I was still in service, before I retired in 2015," Catapang said, according to Inquirer. He described the decision to pursue legal action against former soldiers as one that brought him sorrow.

"I am compelled to take this step because my name is being implicated," he said.

Despite the legal filings, Catapang left the door open for a resolution. He said he might reconsider if the individuals retracted their statements and acknowledged that the delivery of eight suitcases never took place.

"My conscience is clear," Catapang said, according to Philstar.

He also suggested the 18 might have been misled by external parties, maintaining his long-held belief that "there are no bad soldiers, only bad officers or bad commanding officers."

WHAT DE LIMA AND VILLANUEVA ARGUED

De Lima and Villanueva denied the allegations against them. The 18 individuals, assisted by Baligod, had accused them of accepting bribe money from former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co as part of what the group described as a "case build-up" against former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to GMA News.

De Lima pointed to what she called the accusers' inconsistency, noting their accounts shifted from describing cash deliveries in suitcases to cash in paper bags. She argued the shifting details exposed the claims as fabrications.

Baligod, for his part, responded: "Ready and willing to face all accusations against us. I hope those mentioned in the Affidavit will also face our accusations," according to GMA News.

THE BACKGROUND

Baligod presented the 18 individuals in late February as former Marines who allegedly acted as intermediaries delivering an alleged P805 billion in kickbacks tied to fraudulent flood control projects. The group accused multiple officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Romualdez, and former Representative Zaldy Co.

The Palace dismissed the claims. Press Officer Claire Castro called the allegations a "lousy script" designed to tarnish the President.

The Philippine Navy subsequently said four of the 18 were not affiliated with the service, and a significant number had received dishonorable discharges.

NBI SUBPOENAS AND SAFE HOUSE OFFER

The NBI had already subpoenaed the 18 individuals on March 5 after the Ombudsman authorized the agency to conduct an inquiry, according to Inquirer and ABS-CBN. NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed the subpoenas were issued.

On Sunday evening, the NBI went a step further. The agency announced it was willing to provide a safe house for the 18 alleged ex-Marines, according to Inquirer. The offer followed earlier claims by Baligod that his clients faced security threats after going public with their allegations.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had earlier remarked that the actions of the 18 appeared to be "motivated by political interests," noting that six of the signatories face murder charges.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Five separate complainants have now filed legal actions against the 18 and Baligod. Earlier, De Lima and Villanueva filed their initial complaint on March 8, and the NBI's own inquiry runs in parallel.

Duterte himself remains detained at the ICC facility in The Hague, where he has been held for a year pending confirmation of charges related to crimes against humanity over thousands of drug war deaths during his presidency and his time as Davao City mayor.

The flood control scandal that spawned these cross-accusations has already led to the detention of former Senator Bong Revilla and former Representative Zaldy Co, with the Sandiganbayan issuing writs of preliminary attachment against multiple properties.

Where the truth sits among the counter-filings will depend on evidence, not volume.