MISLEADING: Marcos files cases anew against 14 ex-Marines

Jessie Marco Cabrera

A Facebook post by an account named “Makata ng Bayan” stated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had again filed fabricated cases against the ‘14 Marines’ to financially exhaust them and prevent them from posting bail.

CLAIM:

The post claimed that Marcos filed “invented cases” against 14 Marines as retaliation for allegations of corruption.

RATING:

Misleading

CONCLUSION:

Criminal complaints were filed against the former marines, but available reports do not show that President Marcos personally filed them or that they were proven to be fabricated.

THE FACTS:

• The group originally consisted of 18 people who identified as former marines and soldiers. The Philippine Navy later said only 14 had been associated with the Marine Corps, while four had never been members in their ranks.
• Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Fr. Flavie Villanueva filed cyberlibel and perjury complaints against the group in March over allegations they made against them.
• Other complaints were also filed by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang, and former Antonio Trillanes IV.
• There is no record of Marcos filing cases against the group, as well as proof that the cases were deliberately made to use up the former Marines’ money, preventing them from posting bail.

BOTTOMLINE:

The post is misleading. The claim that Marcos personally filed the cases or that they were fabricated against the group has no factual basis.