Imee seeks probe into cash delivery allegations by ex-Marines

Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the supposed delivery by former members of the Philippine Marine Corps of suitcases filled with cash to various individuals allegedly upon the instructions of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co. 

This came after lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 former Marines, at a press conference on Tuesday, accused several individuals of allegedly receiving cash from Co.

Baligod also alleged that Co and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV funded the hotel accommodations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators.

He and the ex-Marines also alleged delivering cash to the house of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Ilocos Norte.

Under proposed Senate Resolution No. 317, Senator Marcos said the allegations in the joint-affidavit of the ex-military personnel who claimed to be employed by Co as personal assistants and security consultants, were “extremely alarming and serious” as it involved lawmakers, Cabinet officials, high ranking government officials, and even the President himself. 

“Aside from corruption and kickbacks, the joint-affidavit also laid bare the secret cooperation between the ICC and the present administration, contrary to the denial under oath of key administration officials,” the resolution read. 

“If the averments in the joint-affidavit are true, then it would mean that not only did the Philippine Government cooperate with the ICC, it did so with the use of illicit funds,” it added.  

At a press conference, Marcos urged the ex-military personnel to face the investigation in the Senate to shed light on the matter. 

“Kung may paratang, ilatag ninyo nang malinaw. Kung may ebidensya, ilabas ninyo nang buong tapang. Kumbaga sa maleta, mananatiling sikreto ang laman nyan kung hindi ilalatag sa lamesa at bubuksan. Dito natin buksan sa Senado at suriin ang maleta ng katotohanan,” the senator said. 

(If there is an allegation, lay it out clearly. If there is evidence, release it bravely. The contents of the suitcase will remain secret if it is not laid out on the table and opened. Here in the Senate, we will open it and examine the suitcase of truth.) 

Accusations

According to Baligod, cash would be prepared at Horizon Homes and then delivered. He also claimed that the deliveries amounted to P805 billion.

“Ang pagde-deliver nila ng pera ay gumagamit ng eroplano, gumagamit din sila ng helicopter, at ganito po ang dine-deliver sa mga bahay ng ilang mambabatas,” the lawyer said.

(They are using airplanes, they are using helicopters, and these are what they deliver to houses of lawmakers.)

He also alleged that Senate witness Orly Guteza, who linked former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to anomalous flood control projects, was part of the delivery. He said that Guteza was forced to say that he had no knowledge of the delivery.

Baligod said ICC investigators did not conduct a “bona fide” investigation in the country as they only interviewed witnesses sent by Trillanes. He claimed the investigators also exchanged cash amounting to $2 million in December 2023. 

“Nakapaloob dito na ang ginawa nila ay mag-interview ng mga witnesses na ipinaparating sa kanila ni Sonny Trillanes. Wala silang ibang ininterview na witnesses kung hindi ang mga tao lamang na pinapadala ni Sonny Trillanes,” he said.

(It is stated here that what they did was interview witnesses being referred to them by Sonny Trillanes. They did not interview any other witnesses except only those people sent by Sonny Trillanes.)

“At binigay kay Sonny Trillanes ang pondo para sa pag-asikaso ng mga ICC investigators na ito,” he added.

(And funds were given to Sonny Trillanes for the handling of these ICC investigators.)

Baligod said they will file the affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman and the ICC.

Denials

On Wednesday, Malacañang dismissed as fake news the accusation of the alleged bagmen that they delivered billions of money to the President.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said their narration was a mere ''lousy script,'' which includes lies. Without disclosing personalities, Castro said it would be better if the public will know who owns the vehicle that picked up these men after their press briefing. 

''Paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan laban sa Pangulo, lousy script, hindi pang-award winning. Hindi malinis, alam mo na may kasinungalingan... so sino ba ang nasa likod nito?'' Castro said at a briefing.

(These are repetitive lies against the President, lousy script and it's not even award winning. It's not clean so you'll know that there were lies. So, who's behind this?)

''Siguro dapat malaman ninyo kung sino ba ang may-ari ng sasakyan na siyang sumundo sa kanila matapos ang press briefing o press conference nila. Paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan,'' she added. 

(Maybe you should know who owns the vehicle that fetched those alleged bagmen after their press briefing?)

4 were never Marines, most dishonorably discharged

Other government officials and individuals mentioned have also denied the allegations against them, with the Philippine Navy saying that four of the 18 were never members of the Navy nor the Philippine Marine Corps.

“Majority of the individuals were discharged dishonorably from the service, while others were able to retire in good standing,” Navy spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez told the media.

Martinez stressed that Guteza was also retired from service since June 2020 and is no longer under the administrative authority of the Navy.

“We remind the public to be discerning and to verify the accuracy and credibility of information, including the source and platform used, in order to help prevent and counter misinformation, disinformation and malinformation which have become increasingly prevalent,” she said.

“The Philippine Navy respects and adheres to constitutional processes, including judicial and legislative inquiries. The Navy does not and will never prevent any individual from testifying the truth, as doing so would go against our core values and principles,” she added.

For his part, Trillanes claimed that this is an attempt to discredit the ongoing ICC proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte for his crimes against humanity case over the drug war.

In a statement, Trillanes denied receiving $2 million or any amount from Co for the investigation of the ICC or any other purpose.

“I will be filing cyberlibel cases against Levi Baligod, Mike Defensor, Jay Sonza, the 18 ex-soldiers, and all those who are maliciously circulating this blatant lie. This is not new to me. I will not be distracted. Hahabulin ko kayo (I will go after you),” he said.

For his part, Manila Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. slammed the allegations that he accepted suitcases of cash as “completely false, baseless, and malicious.”

“This is simply the product of politics. I am being targeted because of the positions I have taken and the stands I have refused to compromise, particularly with regard to obtaining justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings,” he said.

Meanwhile, House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Adiong dubbed the allegations as “BS,” saying they do not deserve a decent answer from him.

“I mean, it's all BS. I'm sorry. They don't even deserve a decent response from me,” he said.

For his part, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega called the allegations “delulu.”

“Mahirap talaga kapag meron kang sariling mundo. Delulu. Delulu ‘yung tawag sa mga ganyan. Hindi natin masyadong binibigyan ng pansin dahil wala namang katotohanan,” he said.

(It’s really difficult if you’re living in your own world. Delusion. That’s what we call delusion. We don’t give much attention to those kinds of things because there’s no truth to them.)

Commission on Elections chairperson George Erwin Garcia, one of the personalities named in the affidavit, similarly denied the allegations and said he will not file cases against the retired marine personnel. 

"Nung mabasa ko 'yung affidavit parang sa first 35 paragraphs tungkol sa ICC bigla akong naipasok, dalawang talata. Wala naman po akong kainvolve-involvement," Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.

(When I read the affidavit, the first 35 paragraphs were about the ICC and then I was linked. I have no involvement in that.)

"Kanina ko lang nalaman na hindi ito pirmado...at hindi ito napapanumpaan pa. Ang sabi ko strategy ito. Napaka-dangerous kasi kung sino man ang sasagot dito ia-adjust at pwede ma-adjust ang mismong affidavit," he said.

(I also learned that the document was not signed and notarized. That is a very dangerous strategy because the affidavit may be adjusted based on the reactions of those who would react.) 

Garcia said he lawyered for Co and for Ako-Bicol Party-list but their communication ended following his appointment as Comelec chairperson.

He likewise inhibited in all cases related to the lawmaker and the party-list. 

"Tinatanong nila ko 'kakasuhan mo ba?' Yun talaga dapat ang initial na reaction, file-an mo ng kaso kaya lang nakakaawa rin naman ang mga taong ito na nagagamit ng mga ilan na may personal o hidden agenda," Garcia said.

(I was asked if I will file cases against them. That is the usual reaction but these people are also pitiful. There's a possibility they are being used by people with hidden agenda.)

"Kung iisipin mong mabuti baka 'yun ang purpose: mawala ang focus sa halalan para sa 2028," he added. 

(If you'll think about it, that is one of the possible reasons why we are being dragged into this: for us to lose focus on our preparations for the 2028 national elections.)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, said that the allegations must be evaluated through proper legal and investigative processes.

“We caution against grandstanding and the manipulative use of legitimate media to spread unverified claims that may contribute to disinformation. The Filipino people deserve facts, and we urge all parties to allow lawful processes to take their course,” the AFP said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Nicolas Torre III, who served as Philippine National Police chief, refused to further comment on his inclusion in the affidavit of the alleged bagmen.

For Torre, it is not an issue since there were a number of names mentioned in the affidavit.

''Alam mo, nakita ko rin iyong affidavit na iyon, napakarami ng pangalan na involved. Allow me please to reserve my comments regarding that matter kasi hindi nga natin alam kung iyan ay kaya nilang i-substantiate at tataasan nila ng kamay para sila ay mag-subscribe diyan,'' Torre said.

(I've seen the affidavit as well, there were a lot of names involved. Allow me please to reserve my comments regarding that matter because we don't know if they can substantiate their claims.)

''Baka mamaya, at the end of the day, sasabihin 'joke only' iyan eh. So, it’s really non-issue right now for me because hindi naman ako ang bida diyan, napakarami ng pangalan diyan,'' he added.

(In the end, maybe they will say that it's just a joke. So, it’s really non-issue right now for me because there were a lot of names there.) —with a report from Sundy Locus/AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News