PH Marine Corps chief blasts ex-members following cash delivery claims

Philippine Marine Corps commandant Major General Vicente Blanco III criticized their former members for their involvement in a press conference regarding the supposed deliveries of cash to various politicians.

“It is unfortunate that in the recent presscon called by a private lawyer, three retired Marines involved themselves,” Blanco said in a statement addressed to the Marines on Wednesday.

Blanca told active Marines that they should look with disdain against “opportunistic groups or individuals trying to link their actions as being true Marine.”

“Barring use of force, threats, intimidation, and/or promise of rewards to them, based on the information available to us, we understand that their involvement was entirely of their own choosing, and that they did this on their own personal volition and as such, we should always look with disdain against opportunistic groups or individuals trying to link their actions as being true Marine,” he said.

“They are unworthy of our respect,” he added.

Blanco also pointed out that their former members “discharged without honor” cannot claim "once a Marine, always a Marine" to justify their actions.

“Reiterating our time-honored Marine ethos and our unquestioned and strong esprit de corps, an individual who was Discharged Without Honor could not claim the adage ‘Once a Marine, Always a Marine’ to lend credence to his actions,” he said.

On Tuesday, 18 personalities who were introduced as supposed ex-Marines, with their lawyer Atty. Levito Baligod, claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with cash various politicians. 

They linked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., among other political figures, to the cash deliveries but the Palace as well as other 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 earlier said.

“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