Lead Prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro dismissed as a “rehash and revival” the claims of 18 former Marines involving the alleged delivery of flood control project money to several individuals.
Luistro said the allegations were revived to destroy the credibility of those pushing for accountability over the Duterte administration and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
The lawmaker said she had already taken legal action even before the former Marines appeared before the Senate, stressing that the allegations followed the same pattern and were meant to undermine her role as lead prosecutor.
“Ever since, we vehemently deny that. As a matter of fact, kasama tayo sa mga nag-file ng kasong libel against these 18 Marines,” Luistro said.
She said the testimony contained inconsistencies and came as the impeachment process was moving toward trial, making the motive behind the renewed allegations clear.
“Very obvious naman ang mga inconsistencies kahapon, and I understand this is just designed na i-destroy ang ating credibility because ever since kasama tayo dito sa impeachment trial,” Luistro emphasized.
Luistro said she has maintained the same position from the first impeachment complaint in the 19th Congress until the present, stressing that the allegations have not changed her stand on accountability.
“Even during the first impeachment complaint back in the 19th Congress hanggang sa ngayon, we never changed our position. The inconsistencies in their testimony, as well as the very obvious design why they are doing that,” she noted.
She said the libel case was filed because her role as lead prosecutor required a clear legal response to the allegations repeatedly made against her by the former Marines.
“That was two weeks ago nung nag-file tayo. When I became conscious of the fact na lead prosecutor tayo, and we are carrying the burden on our shoulder for the interest of the Filipino people, I realized that I need to file a libel case against them para meron tayong legal position about these allegations being imputed against us by these 18 Marines,” Luistro stated.
Luistro said the common thread in the affidavit was the inclusion of people who had taken a stand against actions of the former administration, including lawmakers linked to investigations on extrajudicial killings and the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
“Kung makikita n’yo, ‘yung mga in-include nila sa affidavit, these are the people who are standing against what the former administration did. Nabanggit pa doon ang Quad Comm,” she explained.
“So ano ba itong Quad Comm? This is the mega committee during the 19th Congress who investigated on the EJK of the former administration,” Luistro added.
She also cited the House Committee on Good Government inquiry into the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which became central to accountability issues involving Duterte.
“And ito namang Committee on Good Government, itong kay Joel Chua, na nag-imbestiga naman dito sa confidential fund of OVP and DepEd,” Luistro said.
Luistro said even members of the minority were included in the allegations, pointing out that those named shared a common position against actions of the previous administration.
“So even the minority is there. So if you will look into the position ng itong mga taong in-include doon, may mga senador, may mga congressman, you will see the commonality na silang lahat ay standing against what the former administration did,” she stressed.