'Ex-Marines?' Usec. Castro says call them '18 basureros'

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday described the 18 individuals who allegedly delivered kickbacks to certain officials as garbage collectors.

Castro said this in a press briefing, following the statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that it would be misleading to call the group of men as “ex-Marines” as their supposed tasks were undertaken “in their private capacities.”

“Actually, ‘18 maleta boys, 18 basurero’ — pwede po silang i-describe na gano'n sa ating pananaw. Bakit basurero? Hindi ba mga basura ang kanilang sinasabing kinukuha at dinadala?” the Palace press officer said.

(Actually, they can be described as '18 maleta boys or 18 garbage collectors.’ Why? Weren’t they claiming to be carrying and delivering garbage?)

“Ang request nga po ng AFP ay kung maaaring tawagin na lang na ‘18 witnesses or 18 bodyguards.’ So, ‘18 kargadores or 18 basurero’ — pwede naman po silang i-describe nang ganyan,” she added.

(The request of the AFP is for them to be called '18 witnesses or 18 bodyguards.' So, '18 kargadores or 18 garbage collectors'---they can be described that way.)

AFP Public Affairs Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad earlier clarified that not all of the individuals concerned were former members of the Philippine Marine Corps.

“It is important to note that they were no longer in active military service at the time of the acts and allegations being discussed. These were undertaken in their private capacities and not on behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

The 18 individuals claiming to be former members of Marines alleged Thursday that 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. This was denied by the Palace and the persons involved.

Former congressman Mike 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.

The 18 individuals arrived at the Senate on Monday but did not attend the consultative meeting conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee headed by Senator Erwin Tulfo.

Atty. Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the 18 individuals, said the group was open to attending the legislative inquiry. However, he said Senator Erwin Tulfo should inhibit from the investigation. —KG, GMA News