PH Marines chief reminds force to stand by 'ethos, traditions' amid flood control mess

The Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps on Sunday urged Marines to stand by its "time-honored" ethos and esprit de corps amid the ongoing flood control mess where several supposed former service members are claiming involvement in delivering suitcases of money to lawmakers.

“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,” Major General Vicente Blanco III said in a statement.

“It is unfortunate that in the recent presscon called by a private lawyer, 3 retired Marines involved themselves. Barring use of force, threats, intimidation, and/or promise of rewards to them (3 retired Marines), 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 - they are unworthy of our respect,” he said.

Last February, Blanco criticized the former Marines 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 former servicemen.

On Thursday, Individuals claiming to be former Marines claimed they delivered suitcases of money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, Representative Leila de Lima, and former Rep. France Castro, among others, during a Senate hearing on the flood control mess presided over by Senator Pia Cayetano.

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Friday said he is preparing to file libel charges against the supposed former Marines who accused him and several other lawmakers of receiving suitcases with money, adding the allegations are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday said an informant told the bureau that former AnaKalusugan Representative Mike Defensor bribed alleged former Marines and soldiers to make claims that several personalities received cash from former Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co.

For his part, Defensor on Friday defended the 18 supposed former Marines and soldiers anew, rejecting allegations that their testimonies before the Cayetano bloc-led Senate Blue Ribbon committee were scripted and politically motivated. —RF, GMA News