Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Former congressman Mike Defensor admitted helping the supposed 18 former Marines and Navy personnel who are allegedly “bagmen” of former lawmaker Zaldy Co and claimed to have delivered cash to top officials.Defensor said he decided to help when he found out that there is an alleged &quot;effort&quot; to reveal other former military members following Orly Guteza’s testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon panel.“Nabanggit ‘yan sa akin so talagang tumulong ako kung ano ‘yung matutulong ko. Isa na diyan ‘yung sasakyan when they conducted the press conference. I helped also in supporting dun sa press conference,” he told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview Saturday, February 28.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/27/palace-says-people-behind-ex-marines-working-to-remove-marcos-jr-from-office-1523">Palace says people behind &#x27;ex-Marines&#x27; working to remove Marcos Jr. from office</a></div>Asked why he is helping, Defensor said he just wants the truth on the corruption allegations to come out and for the former soldiers to be protected since Guteza, as he claimed, had been &quot;illegally detained.&quot;“Wala akong motibasyon dito kundi lumabas ‘yung katotohanan, ‘yung mga sinasabi nila, bigyan ng pagkakataon marinig ng sambayanang Pilipino at gusto ko ‘wag naman magkaroon ng panganib sa buhay nila at sa buhay ng kanilang pamilya,” he said. He claimed that the supposed former soldiers had no ill-motive as he vouched for their credibility. “Walang motibasyon ang mga sundalong ‘to. Kung pera lang no, kung ano ‘yung ebidensyang nakita ninyo, napakalaking pera ng mga ‘yun eh. ‘Yung mga pangaln na nandiyan, kayang tindigan ng mga sundalo bawat isang pangalan, at kung papanong nangyari dun sa pagbibigay ng pera,” Defensor noted. The former lawmaker, however, clarified that he did not help in the crafting of the affidavit. <div>‘MORE WILL SPEAK OUT’</div>The former lawmaker claimed a total of 90 individuals might come out to speak.“I hope next week nandyan na rin sila magsalita na rin sila. Pero depende sa kanila eh kung kailan nila talagang [gustong] magsasalita tungkol dito. Nobenta lahat ‘to eh. 90. Some of them are active, some of them are ex-Marines and ex-soldiers, nandyan sila,” he said. “There are officials, retired officials who are also working with them, ‘yung mga kasamahan ni Zaldy Co dati.  And inaasahan ko na nandyan yung mga taong ‘to kasama na diyan yung ilang mga tao talaga ni Zaldy Co,” Defensor added. The former congressman also lambasted criticisms that the fresh allegations may be part of an attempt to destabilize government. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/palace-dismisses-new-bagmen-claim-as-lousy-scriptwriting-1539">Palace dismisses new &#x27;bagmen&#x27; claim as &#x27;lousy scriptwriting&#x27; </a> </div>Malacañang on Friday said it believes those behind the individuals claiming to be former Marines and accusing ranking officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., of receiving kickbacks, are the same people who want him out of office.“Naiintindihan ko na ganyan ang reaksyon nila kung may tinatago sila. Kung talagang sila ang mastermind ng korapsyon dito sa ating bansa,” Defensor said. Defensor hopes that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senate President Pro-Tempore Panfilo Lacson will probe the allegations, saying that the former soldiers are willing to face any public investigation.“Ang akin lang apela, ‘wag naman ‘yung parang ang treatment kaagad sa mga sundalo eh kalaban, ‘wag naman yung parati ang treatment kaagad eh parang ‘ito kailangan sirain natin ang kredibilidad,’” he said.

Former congressman Mike Defensor admitted helping the supposed 18 former Marines and Navy personnel who are allegedly “bagmen” of former lawmaker Zaldy Co and claimed to have delivered cash to top officials.

Former congressman Mike Defensor admitted helping the supposed 18 former Marines and Navy personnel who are allegedly “bagmen” of former lawmaker Zaldy Co and claimed to have delivered cash to top officials.

Mike Defensor admits helping 'ex-Marines'

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Mike Defensor admits helping 'ex-Marines'

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 28, 2026 06:08 PM PHT

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Mike Defensor

Zaldy Co

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