MANILA — The lawyer representing 18 former Philippine Marines who alleged delivering P805 billion in cash to political figures said discussions and verification of their claims began as early as October, months before the accusations rocked the political establishment.
Atty. Levito “Levy” Baligod disclosed that he had been carefully examining the former military personnel’s accounts, which center on alleged kickbacks from controversial government flood-control projects.
“Matagal ko silang kinakausap at bine-verify ‘yung kanilang mga sinasabi. Mula nag-start po kaming mag-usap-usap October,” Baligod said in a radio interview on Thursday.
Baligod said his efforts went beyond internal interviews, claiming he also tried to reach individuals linked to one of the key personalities mentioned in the controversy.
“Nagsimula pa ako noong bandang October na gumawa ng paraan na makausap ko ‘yung mga dating kasamahan ni Guteza sa trabaho kay Zaldy Co,” he said.
The issue escalated after the 18 individuals, introduced as former Marines, publicly alleged that they transported suitcases containing cash totaling about P805 billion. According to them, the funds were sourced from supposed kickbacks tied to government flood-control projects and distributed to various political personalities.
Among those named in the accusations was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., though Malacañang and other officials categorically denied the claims.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro rejected the allegations, branding them fabricated and politically motivated.
“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?” Castro said.
“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.
The allegations form part of a broader controversy surrounding government infrastructure projects, particularly flood-control initiatives that have previously drawn scrutiny. Several officials have denied any wrongdoing as calls mount for a thorough investigation into the competing claims./PN
