Talks with ex-Marines on alleged cash deliveries began in October, Baligod says

The lawyer representing several former members of the Philippine Marine Corps said their discussions on the alleged cash deliveries to various individuals allegedly upon the instructions of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co started as early as October.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday, Atty. Levito “Levy” Baligod said he had been in talks with the former Marines for months to verify their claims.

“Matagal ko silang kinakausap at bine-verify 'yung kanilang mga sinasabi. Mula nag-start po kaming mag-usap-usap October,” Baligod said.

(I have been talking to them for a long time and verifying what they are saying. We started talking in October.)

“Nagsimula pa ako noong bandang October na gumawa ng paraan na makausap ko 'yung mga dating kasamahan ni Guteza sa trabaho kay Zaldy Co,” he added.

(I started around October to find a way to talk to Guteza's former colleagues at work with Zaldy Co.) 

LIVE sa DZBB: Atty. Levito “Levy” Baligod kaugnay ng mga alegasyon ng 18 former Marines.

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 26, 2026

Orly Guteza in September last year also claimed delivering money to Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid the issue on anomalous flood control projects, which Co and Romualdez denied.

On Tuesday, 18 personalities, who were introduced as supposed ex-Marines, claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with cash worth about P805 billion that originated from kickbacks in anomalous flood control projects to various politicians. 

They linked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., among other political figures, to the cash deliveries but the Palace as well as other named politicians dismissed the accusations.

''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?'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

(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?)

The Philippine Navy said 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 said.

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. —AOL, GMA Integrated News