NBI subpoenas 18 alleged ex-Marines, Baligod, Defensor

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has issued subpoenas to former congressman Mike Defensor, lawyer Levito Baligod, and 18 alleged former Marines who claimed that they made cash deliveries to several personalities as instructed by former Ako Bikol party-list representative Zaldy Co.

In an interview with reporters on Friday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the lawyer who notarized the alleged former Marines' affidavit was also subpoenaed.

"We are deputized by the Ombudsman to investigate the issue," Matibag said. 

"We are investigating and following all the leads and all the angles, kung ano 'yung mga puwede nating puntahan na ebidensiya (We are investigating and following all the leads and all the angles. We will check where the evidence will lead us)," he added.

Following the issuance of the subpoenas, Matibag said the 18 alleged former Marines and others were ordered to appear before the NBI on Wednesday, March 11.

"I confirm 'yung sinabi ng ating Ombudsman na some of them may mga criminal cases na naka-pending or naka-archive," he said.

(I confirm the Ombudsman's statement that some of them have either pending or archived criminal cases.)

To recall, Baligod and the 18 alleged ex-Marines accused several individuals of receiving cash from Co, a key figure in the multi-billion peso flood control corruption scandal.

The politicians, government officials, and personalities mentioned by the supposed servicemen have denied the allegations. The Philippine Navy has said four of the 18 were never members of the Navy, nor the Philippine Marine Corps.

Defensor, a former representative of the Anakalusugan party-list group, has admitted helping the 18 alleged former Marines, but denied any role in the preparation of their affidavit. — VDV, GMA Integrated News