Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Job Manahan

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772084786422HCDdBIBaMAQ2s3o_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lawyer Levi Baligod arrives here at the Office of the Ombudsman to file a document. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Lawyer Levi Baligod on Thursday referred the signed affidavit of 18 supposed former Marines and Navy personnel to the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming corruption in various government agencies.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/ph-navy-4-of-18-presented-as-bagmen-were-never-marines-0910">PH Navy: 4 of 18 presented as ‘bagmen’ were never Marines</a></div><p>Baligod had claimed the 18 individuals were &quot;bagmen&quot; who delivered P805 billion to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.</p><p>But the Philippine Navy earlier said 4 of the 18 individuals presented by him as alleged former “bagmen” were never members of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AFFIDAVIT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The lawyer said the affidavit was against seven senators, 26 House members, and other government officials from the Bureau of Corrections, Department of Agriculture, among other agencies.</p><p>Baligod said these lawmakers and officials might have committed violations of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Republic Act No. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, he said.</p><p>“Para magkaroon ng prima facie proof na may offense na na-commit at ang mga napangalanan doon ay maaaring guilty sa mga offenses na ito,” Baligod told reporters.  </p><p>&quot;Tumanggap sila ng milyon-milyon na pera pero hindi napakita yan sa kanilang SALN,&quot; he said.</p><p>Should the Ombudsman investigate their allegations written on the affidavit, he said it could also find out if the officials committed “malversation and bribery.” </p><p>He also clarified that the money in question did not come from flood control projects, but through different programs of the DA, DENR, and other government agencies.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ALLEGATIONS VS DE LIMA, REMULLA </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He said based on the statements of the 18 former marines and navy personnel, they saw former senator and now ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima holding a meeting in an establishment at Forbes Park.  </p><p>“Isa si Cong de Lima na nakita nila mismo, eyewitness na nagdala ng paper bag na may salapi sa loob na hindi magkukulang na P5 milyon,” he said.</p><p>Earlier, the former marines and navy personnel also claimed that the lawmaker received pieces of luggage full of cash. </p><p>She, however, denied this, saying this is a “clear demolition job, concoction of lies. I absolutely and firmly deny any such ridiculous claim.”</p><p>“These cheap and laughable moves are squid tactics to distract us from the real issue: the reckoning of the Dutertes,” De Lima said in a statement.</p><p>The 18 individuals also alleged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is involved in the scheme, claiming he had meetings with staff from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when he was justice secretary.</p><p>&quot;Nakikipag usap siya sa ICC. Siya ang alter ego ng presidente, at ang official statement ng Malacanang is that ‘we’ll never cooperate with the ICC’ and yet you have a high-ranking official of the government no less than the secretary of the Department of Justice cooperating with the ICC,&quot;  Baligod said.</p><p>This is “undue damage” to the government, he said, adding that conspiracy and collusion with the ICC is a “possibility.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WELL-FUNDED? </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He said it was “normal” that his critics and other individuals would cast doubt on his credibility, saying this was also what happened during the PDAF scam, one of the cases he previously handled.</p><p>“Normal na akusahan nila ako ng kung ano-ano na may nagpondo sa akin, puwede rin naman na ilabas nila ang ebidensya na ako ay pinopondohan. I can open my bank account, they can inspect it,” he said.</p><p>ABS-CBN News already reached out to Baligod to provide the soft copy of the affidavit as he promised, but he has yet to respond and his lines were busy as of this story’s posting.</p><p>ABS-CBN News is also waiting for the response of Ombudsman Remulla regarding the allegations. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AÑO DENIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año on Thursday denied allegations contained in an affidavit from 18 supposed former Marines accusing him of receiving a paper bag after a supposed meeting at the Polo Club townhouse.</p><p>In a statement, Año rejected what he described as a malicious attempt to smear his reputation, stressing that the claims are false and fabricated.</p><p>“To set the record straight, I have never attended any meeting with former Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Congressman Zaldy Co, and Congressman Leila de Lima in the Polo Club townhouse or in any other location, nor did I receive any paper bag or package from them,” Año said.</p><p>Año added that he would not tolerate attempts to malign his name and that his legal team is prepared to take all necessary legal actions.</p><p>He also ordered an independent probe to determine whether the allegations form part of a broader effort to undermine government institutions.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OLS-YtPkx8Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span> </strong></div>

<p>Lawyer Levi Baligod on Thursday referred the signed affidavit of 18 supposed former Marines and Navy personnel to the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming corruption in various government agencies.</p>

Lawyer Levi Baligod on Thursday referred the signed affidavit of 18 supposed former Marines and Navy personnel to the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming corruption in various government agencies.

Lawyer refers affidavit of 'ex-Marines' vs lawmakers, gov't officials to Ombudsman

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Lawyer refers affidavit of 'ex-Marines' vs lawmakers, gov't officials to Ombudsman

Job Manahan,

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 26, 2026 01:49 PM PHT

|

Updated February 26, 2026 03:26 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Marine Corps

Marines

bagmen

Congressman Zaldy Co

National Security Council

Eduardo Año

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