From Marines to bagmen? Palace sees ‘lousy script’
The Palace spokesperson dismissed as a “lousy script” the accusation that President Marcos was the “mastermind” and biggest beneficiary of a corruption scheme supposedly employing former Marines to deliver travel bags filled with cash to politicians’ homes.
Three former lawmakers called the allegation a mere diversionary tactic from this week’s hearing of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and from next week’s deliberations on the new impeachment complaints against his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Philippine Navy, meanwhile, said four of the alleged cash couriers were never part of the military while the others were mostly ex-members who were dishonorably discharged.
The accusations were made during a press conference on Tuesday where lawyer Levito Baligod presented 18 men in black shirts, whom he described as former Marines who served as “bagmen” or couriers who delivered a total of P805 billion in kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Baligod accused President Marcos of being the brains behind the scheme that benefited a total of 26 lawmakers, with the money supposedly coming from former Ako Bicol Rep. and House appropriations committee chair Elizaldy Co.
“It’s a lousy script, not worthy of winning an award. It’s not polished. You can already tell there’s falsehood in it,” Malacañang press officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Castro urged the media to look into the background of the persons behind such “repeated lies against the President,” saying they were the same people behind the destabilization plot to unseat Mr. Marcos last year.
The Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice (DOJ) may be expected “to file cases against those spreading fake news,” she said when asked if the Palace is taking legal action.
“[The PNP, NBI and DOJ] should already know this. It is their obligation,’’ she added.
‘Timing highly suspicious’
In a joint statement, former ACT Teachers party list Rep. France Castro, former Gabriela party list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and former Kabataan party list Rep. Raoul Manuel pointed to the timing of their “malicious” inclusion in the supposed list of cash recipients.
“The timing… is highly suspicious and reveals its true purpose: to discredit the legitimate investigations against the Dutertes by making it appear that these are politically motivated and funded by their political opponents,” said the three allies under the Makabayan bloc.
“This is a classic Duterte playbook—when cornered by evidence of their crimes and corruption, they manufacture lies and attack their accusers,” they added.
They noted most of the lawmakers named in the list played significant roles in the quad committee hearings on the extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations committed during the elder Duterte’s war on drugs and in the impeachment of his daughter also last year.
“Why release this now, precisely when Duterte faces ICC proceedings and Sara Duterte faces [another] impeachment?” they asked, dismissing the allegations as mere “gossip.”
Navy statement
Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the Navy reviewed its official records to check the background of the men presented during Tuesday’s press conference, videos of which were posted online.
In a statement, Martinez said four of them were never members of the Marines or the Navy, but that “majority” were dishonorably discharged.
She said claims made in a public forum must undergo proper legal processes.
“The Philippine Navy respects and adheres to constitutional processes, including judicial and legislative inquiries,” Martinez said. “The Navy does not and will never prevent any individual from testifying the truth.”
In a separate statement on Tuesday night, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the allegations should be evaluated by “proper legal and investigative processes before competent authorities.”
“We caution against grandstanding and the manipulative use of legitimate media to spread unverified claims that may contribute to disinformation,” the AFP added. —REPORTS FROM DEXTER CABALZA, GABRIEL PABICO LALU AND GABRYELLE DUMALAG
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