Metro Manila, Philippines – One of the alleged deliveries of cash in suitcases – as claimed by so-called 18 marines in their affidavit – happened during the Duterte administration, Ombudsman Boying Remulla said on Friday, March 13.
In a press briefing, Remulla said a reliable source told him that one photo of a cash delivery in the affidavit was sometime during the 18th Congress.
“There was a delivery done…supposedly the joint affidavit of the 18 marines pointed to a delivery to one of the Congress persons, one of the congressmen or congresswomen.
But when we investigated that angle, it appears that this delivery was done during the time of Speaker Lord Velasco,” he said. Velasco was speaker from October 2020 to June 2022
“Duterte time definitely ‘yung isa roon. ‘Yung isang na-point out sa akin, na nag-inform sa akin,” he added, referring to the Duterte administration.
[Translation: The report we received mentioned that the suitcase contained cash. Yes, that was what it contained. And his report was delivered during that time. So you’re referring to something that happened before 2022…One of those definitely happened during Duterte’s time. The other one that was pointed out to me was something someone informed me about.]
Remulla did not name his source.
The alleged marine personnel said he and his cohorts delivered suitcases of cash on behalf of fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, tagging a number of lawmakers as supposed recipients of flood control kickbacks.
The 18 are facing multiple complaints including perjury and cyber libel.
The Philippine Navy earlier disclosed that four of the supposed marines were never part of their group, while some of them were dishonorably discharged from service.
Remulla said there could be manipulation of facts in light of the intelligence information he received.
He added the 18 marines should submit individual affidavits to verify their claims.
“Hindi pwedeng 18 kayo tapos nag-kwentuhan kayo sabay lahat kayo pipirma ng affidavit. Hindi naman pwedeng ang affidavit ay kwento e. Dapat iyan talaga yung naranasan mo at nasaksihan mo,” Remulla said.
[Translation: It can’t be that there were 18 of you just chatting and then all of you signed an affidavit. An affidavit can’t just be a story. It has to be something you personally experienced or witnessed.]
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the group’s counsel, Levi Baligod, as well as to Velasco.
