By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Rep. Leila De Lima and Fr. Flavie Villanueva have filed perjury charges against 18 retired soldiers who signed a joint affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman. The charges were filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) following complaints lodged with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday.
De Lima denies allegations that she met with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and received a “paper bag” containing millions of pesos, calling the claims false and intended to tarnish her reputation. The joint affidavit alleged that she received the money, but she strongly refutes these claims.
Fr. Villanueva said the complaint is a response to what he described as the group’s defamatory actions. The allegations from the retired soldiers have sparked controversy, prompting De Lima and Villanueva to pursue legal action.
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