'Ex-marines' details alleged cash deliveries to top officials

Eighteen supposed former members of the Philippine Marines have come forward with explosive allegations that they served as “security escorts in delivering luggage allegedly containing money” for former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. 

In Sunday's episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," several self-identified ex-marines claimed they escorted and helped in delivering delivered suitcases filled with billions of pesos in alleged kickbacks to top government officials.

Jessica Soho personally interviewed them.

The group alleged that from 2022 to 2025, they transported cash in large suitcases, paper bags, and envelopes to properties linked to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

One of the whistleblowers, Belnard Tube, said he began working for Co before the latter became a congressman.

"Nag-start po ako ng work kay Cong. Zaldy hindi pa siya congressman," Tube said.

[“I started working for Zaldy Co before he became a congressman.”]

"Then kausap siya ni Cong. Romualdez na maging APRO 2022, nag-start na po 'yung security. Then, nagde-deliver na rin po kami ng mga 'basura' na sinasabi nila," he added.

[“Then Cong. Romualdez was talking to him about becoming APRO 2022, which was when security had started. Then, we were also delivering the 'trash' they were saying.”]

The word "basura" is a code word for suitcases filled with money, also used by Orly Guteza, a former marine soldier and security consultant, who stated during a September 2025 Senate hearing: "Tagabuhat lang ako ng maleta na may basura. Ang ibig sabihin ng basura ay maleta na may lamang pera."

[“We carry suitcases filled with 'trash,' which means a suitcase full of money.]”

In his affidavit, Tube claimed he personally delivered suitcases of cash to the President's alleged residence in Forbes Park, Makati City.

"[Sa] [redacted] po. Meron din po kami sa Ilocos kasama po si Cong Zaldy," Tube said.

["[At] [redacted]. We also have one in Ilocos with Cong Zaldy.”]

According to the affidavits, large suitcases allegedly contained P50 million to P70 million, medium-sized ones held P30 million to P40 million, and smaller luggage carried P15 million to P25 million.

Meanwhile, the paper bags supposedly contained P5 million to P10 million, while expandable envelopes held around P2 million each.

Another whistleblower, Rosebert Waupan, claimed he joined operations that involved delivering nearly 50 suitcases of cash to different residences linked to Romualdez.

"'Yung unang operation na nasamahan ko, nag-deliver kami ng halos 50 na maleta kay dating speaker," Waupan said.

[“The first operation I was involved in, we delivered almost 50 suitcases to the former speaker.”]

"At first, wala kaming idea kung saan galing 'yung pera. Ang iniisip ko, mayaman si boss, marami siyang business," he added. "Pero nu’ng kalaunan, nalaman namin na, kasi pumutok na, naglabasan na 'yung mga pangalan, doon [kaban ng bayan] pala 'yan galing."

[“At first, we had no idea where the money came from. I thought the boss was rich; he has a lot of business. But later, we found out, because it was already leaked, the names were coming out, that's where (people's taxes) it came from.”]

Their counsel, Atty. Levi Baligod estimated that the total amount of alleged deliveries to different specific locationscould have reached P805 billion.

"Pag isusuma-total ko 'yung frequency of their deliveries, doon lamang sa Forbes Park at saka sa Aguado, ang estimate ko, umaabot 'yan ng P805 billion," he said.

[“If I total the frequency of their deliveries, just in Forbes Park and then in Aguado, my estimate is that it reaches P805 billion.”]

The Philippine Navy, however, disputed the credentials of several members of the group, saying that four of the 18 individuals were never members of the Navy or the Philippine Marine Corps.

"Majority of the individuals were discharged dishonorably from the service, while others were able to retire in good standing," the Navy said in a statement.

Meanwhile, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV questioned the credibility of the claims, saying they were timed to sabotage the International Criminal Court hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

On the other hand, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro described the allegations as fabricated.

"Lousy script. Hindi pang-award-winning. Hindi malinis. Alam mong may kasinungalingan," Castro said.

[Lousy script. Not award-winning. Not clean. You know there are lies.] — MGP/LA, GMA Integrated News